By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– Steven Verespey has been a dude this Summer for the Marion Berries.
Entering Friday’s game, the incoming Willamette University senior started, and played in, five games for the Berries with a 2-0 record and a sub-two ERA for the squad.
And, against the Portland Pickles in Independence Day on Friday, he was once again dominant. Going seven innings, with two strikeouts and just letting his defense work behind him in what became a 4-3 victory against the best team in the West Coast League.
“I’m not doing anything special, I got a great defense behind me. I’ve been throwing strikes, and weak contact has really been saving me this Summer. I’m having a lot of fun,” said Verespey.
The bats carried over to back up Verespey from the Yakima Valley series from earlier this week with the Berries plated three first inning runs en route to building a 4-0 lead going into the fourth inning.
But then, it seemed as if the Pickles, who came into the game with a 24-4 overall record, were about to spoil the Marion Berries upset bid as they plated three runs in the top half of fourth inning to draw the Berries back within one going into the bottom half of the frame.
The Marion Berries defense, however, who has shown flashes of greatness thus far this Summer, kept the Pickles to that three-run inning to pick up their fourth-straight victory. That span is a program-best in terms of a winning streak.
“It was gigantic. That could have been a turning point,” said Verespey of the fourth inning. “Once an offense starts to heat up, so it could’ve gotten dangerous because guys play off momentum, and I believe that these guys are no different.
“But we were able to curve that momentum, and we were able to keep them where they were at. It was really hard, but I’m really proud of my team for doing it. “
Koen Barton (Hawaii), Jack Meek (UC-Davis), and Joseph Perez (Chaminade) closed out the game in the eight and ninth innings. Perez picked up the save, his fifth on the year.
Cody Kashimoto (St. Mary’s College of Hawaii) led the Berries with a team-high two hits. Oregon State’s Paul Vazquez led the Marion squad with two runs driven in.
As for Verespey, who’s pitched 37 innings to this point with an ERA of 1.45 to go with hos 3-0 record, he’s hoping to continue to build off of this Summer in preparation for his final season with the Bearcats.
“It’s been incredible. It’s a great opportunity. I haven’t had the best last couple of years, so to come out and do well, it feels incredible and I can’t wait to take it back to the team and have a great last year.,” said Verespey. “Spotting up the offspeed, I can do a little bit better. I left a few sliders and curveballs right in the middle area .
“These hitters are good. They’re going to punish you for it. If I can stay on the outside corner with everything, then I think everything will work great.”
Game two of the series with the Pickles will be on Saturday at 6:35pm at Chemeketa Community College.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
