by Simon Wei

The St. John Bosco Braves varsity baseball team traveled to Las Vegas for the Bishop Gorman Invitational last week against elite baseball powerhouses from around the country, playing four games and finishing with a record of 3-1.

Coming into the tournament with a 2-2 record with some close losses, the defending CIF State Regional Champions were destined to show that they are a much better team than what their record shows. 

The tournament was a roller coaster to the Brave’s spirit, with an easy win in the first game followed with a demoralizing loss in the second round. However, they bounced back in the third and fourth games with strong pitching and aggressive base running.

Game 1:

St. John Bosco started the tournament with a 9-2 victory against the Liberty Patriots from Henderson, NV. Bosco’s strategy was to take the rhythm from the Patriots from the first pitch. From then on, the Braves took control.

Freshman right-handed pitcher, Brayden Krakowski, was the key part in the execution of the game plan. He set the standard by throwing four scoreless innings with three strikeouts, which got the rest of the team to feel confident and play with aggression.

The offense was led by seniors Micah Taguiam and Macade Maxwell who both went 2 for 3. They consistently found ways to get on base and drive in runs. Junior Moises Razo added a cherry on top to this masterpiece with a solo home run along with three stolen bases and three runs scored. The Braves won and sent a message to the rest of the bracket.

Game 2:

In the second round, the Braves faced a Nevada powerhouse, the Basic Academy Wolves from Henderson, NV.

Senior left-handed pitcher, Trevor Heishman, ran into early trouble, where he allowed two runs in the first inning.

The Braves were able to immediately strike back thanks to junior Jack Champlin with a solo home run in the top of the second inning.

The Braves tried their best offensively but could not get any opportunities to break through against the Basic pitching staff. They unfortunately fell short in a 3-1 loss, making it their only loss in the tournament. This served as a wake up call to keep playing consistent and aggressive.

Game 3:

Ignited by the loss from the last round, the Braves fueled up their tank and took on the Calvary Day Cavaliers from Savannah, GA. Both teams put on a show, and the Braves came out stronger with their resilience and offensive firepower.

The main strategy executed was to be consistent and disciplined—- a core principle that senior outfielder and second baseman, Phillip Swinford, emphasized.

”Our strategy for each game was to come in and be consistent in what we do—our mindset, our approach, our energy and controlling what we can control,” said Phillip. “We came into each game competing to do our job in whatever situation we were in, to do damage and to be aggressive.”

The Braves followed this approach flawlessly. They set the rhythm of the game early on and maintained control throughout, helping them secure a 7-2 victory.

Game 4:

The final game of the tournament was the highlight of the Bishop Gorman Invitational. The Braves took on the Desert Oasis Diamondbacks and showcased their clutch genes.

Senior Jacob Alvarez got the start and went three innings with three strikeouts while only giving up one run. Coming out of the bullpen for the Braves was senior John Crowe, as he tossed two scoreless innings and earned himself a strikeout while doing so.

The bats were shockingly quiet for the Braves in this matchup, but when the top of the sixth inning came around, this all changed. 

With two runners on base, junior outfielder and third baseman, Noah Everly, stepped up and delivered a clutch single to tie the game 1-1. Junior right-handed pitcher, Aiden Dahlk, tossed two scoreless innings with zero hits allowed and three strikeouts.

In a still tied game, junior outfielder, Miles Clark, delivered a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning, to give the Braves a 4-1 lead in what was the biggest hit of the tournament for the Braves.

Both Miles and Noah posted strong games at the plate, with Clark finishing the game 1-for-2 with three runs battled in (RBIs) and Everly going 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI in the 4-1 victory.

The Braves showed the Nevada teams that they were more than a talented unit, but also a team with resilience. The veterans’ leadership combined with rising young talent make Bosco a clinical team with precise execution.

Moreover, their ability to bounce back shows that they are a true contender for whatever is to come, especially their next opponent—the West Linn Lions from Oregon. The game will be played Great Park Irvine, where the USC Trojans currently play their home games while their stadium is under construction. First pitch is at 5:30pm.