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Elk Grove Citizen

Rio Americano sweeps series from Sacramento in dominant fashion

May 02, 2022 12:00AM ● By Story and photo by Shaun Holkko, sports editor

Rio Americano senior designated hitter Ryan Christiansen stands in the batter's box and awaits a pitch during a 15-4 loss to Del Campo on April 22 at Jerry Kaeser Field in Sacramento. Christiansen is committed to play collegiately next season for his dad, Reggie, at Sacramento State.

SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) – The Rio Americano varsity baseball team bounced back from a series sweep to Del Campo in a big way with a display of domination against Sacramento.

The Raiders (15-11, 10-5 Capital Athletic League) outscored the Dragons (2-19, 0-14) by an absurd margin over three games, totaling 66-0 over nine innings. Each game ended after three innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Sacramento hosted the first game of the series Monday, April 25. Rio Americano scored five runs in each inning, en route to a 15-0 win. Junior shortstop Caden Beloian recorded one fifth of the Raiders’ runs batted in with three on one double with two runs scored in three plate appearances. Sophomore outfielder Reese Christiansen and junior outfielder Kyle Wirtz led Rio Americano in hits with two each.

Christiansen had three runs and one RBI in three at bats. Both of Wirtz’s hits went for extra bases as he had one double and one triple with one run, one RBI and one hit by pitch. Junior pitcher Chase Christenson earned the win on the mound for the Raiders after striking out all six Dragons he faced in two innings on 28 pitches. Freshman pitcher Kyler Benton had identical success, punching out all three Sacramento batters he faced on 10 pitches.

Rio Americano did not allow a hit. Junior pitcher Jah’sun Johnson suffered the loss for the Dragons. The Sacramento co-captain allowed 15 runs (eight earned), 11 hits, four HBP and three walks across three chaotic innings.

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Wednesday’s matchup shifted locations to the home of the Raiders, Jerry Kaeser Field. Rio Americano topped it’s impressive performance two days prior with even more scoring in far less time. The Raiders scored 18 runs in the bottom of the first inning and added one more in each the second and third, respectively, to ultimately win 20-0.

Rio Americano senior infielders Jake Marr and J.T. Wright each reached base in all their plate appearances. Marr had three runs, two HBP, one hit, one RBI and one walk in four plate appearances. Wright had two runs, two RBI, one run, one walk and one sacrifice fly in three plate appearances.

Senior outfielder Jacob Hergert led the Raiders in RBI with four while adding three runs, one hit, one HBP and one sacrifice fly. Junior pitcher Brady Wilson earned the win for Rio Americano by pitching three scoreless innings and allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven Dragons on 44 pitches.

In a series that did not seem like it could get much worse for Sacramento, it actually did in the series finale played Friday. The Raiders scored 20 runs in the first inning to match their total from two days prior and added on 11 more in the top of the second. The Dragons went down quietly and Rio Americano was victorious 31-0 to complete the sweep.

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Five Raiders reached base in all their plate appearances Friday. Marr, Wilson, senior second baseman Davis Grawey, sophomore third baseman Mac Hausman and senior outfielder Jackson Pemberton. Wirtz led the team in RBI with four, followed closely behind by Marr, Wilson and junior catcher Jonny Pierce who each had three.

Beloian earned the win by tossing one scoreless inning without allowing a hit with two strikeouts on 10 pitches. Hausman and junior pitcher Aidan Lieu each pitched one inning as well but unlike Beloian, recorded all their outs by Ks.

Rio Americano concludes the 2022 regular season at Jerry Kaeser Field with a single game against West Campus (9-7, 9-5 Greater Sacramento) on Friday at 4:15 P.M.