Weston Ranch Varsity baseball took the field this week needing two wins to keep their playoff hopes alive and responded in a big way. The Cougars got an 11-0 victory on April 18 and a 12-0 win yesterday to complete the two-game series sweep over the Titans.

On Tuesday, with the Cougars leading comfortably 11-0, Ayden Tinsley took a perfect game into the bottom of the fifth inning. However, Tinsley surrendered a lead-off single, which spoiled his bid at perfection. Nevertheless, the junior recorded the next three outs and helped Weston Ranch finish the mercy-run-shortened game. Tinsley finished with eight strikeouts.

Offensively, Weston Ranch banged out 11 hits and drove in seven runs. Jose Aguilar, Tinsley, and Namir Brown-Sanger collected two hits each. JoseLuis Suarez led the Cougars with two RBI.

The Cougars were scoreless through the first two innings but plated five runs in the third, two in the fourth, and four in the fifth and final frame. Weston Ranch also took advantage of several Chavez defensive miscues to extend the lead and provide a big cushion for Tinsley.

“We came out a little timid as the game began but eventually figured out a way to play our baseball style,” head coach David Hager said. “We began to get on base and take an extra 90 feet when possible and even when not possible. We forced them to play fast catch, which worked to our advantage. We took care of the baseball defensively and worked to improve the entire game.”

Yesterday’s 12-0 win was the same scenario. The Cougars scored in every inning, knocked out 12 hits, and took advantage of the Titans’ inexperience to notch another mercy-run-shortened victory.

Matteo Duron took the hill for Weston Ranch and performed admirably. Duron didn’t get close to perfection as Tinsley did the previous game, but the junior went five innings, scattered three hits, walked none, and struck out five Chavez batters.

Offensively, the Cougars got two hits each from Aguilar, Duron, Jordan Paris, Brown-Sanger, and Suarez. Duron knocked in four Weston Ranch runners to lead the Cougars. Paris added two RBI.

“We came out again and did what we needed to do,” Hager said. “Matteo pitched great, and we took care of the baseball. Our base runners were really aggressive and got into scoring position the entire game. Jordan, Namir, and JoseLuis did a great job at the bottom of our lineup. We took control early and made it easy for Matteo to pitch with a lead.”

Weston Ranch improved to 6-11 overall and 5-5 in the SJAA. The Cougars travel to Ripon Christian tomorrow for a non-conference game with the Knights and play Franklin High School at home on April 25.