POWER Pitchers Reach Milestone

PALM SPRINGS, CA–POWER pitching duo Nick Baker and Ryan Santhon had reason to be smiling after Tuesday’s win versus the Inland Empire Aces at Palm Springs Stadium.  On July 13, Baker set the record for most wins by a POWER pitcher against the Arroyo Seco Saints, and Tuesday, he improved to 9-0 on the season.

Baker seeks to be the first pitcher in Southern California Collegiate Baseball League (SCCBL) history to accumulate 10 wins during the course of the season.  He will make this monumental start in Game One of the SCCBL title game on Tuesday, July 26 at 7:05 p.m. at Palm Springs Stadium.

“I don’t think about it,” said Baker on the chance for double digit wins. “I am just going out on Tuesday to get a win in the playoffs.”

Although it would be a great feat to accomplish 10 wins in one season, winning a championship is more important to Baker.  But he will prepare for it just like any other game.

“I usually prepare for games by looking at the opposing roster and taking notes a few days in advance,” said Baker. “Then I sleep in for about half of the day [on game day].”

Ryan Santhon deals a pitch to the batter

Santhon, on the other hand, went into Tuesday’s matchup tied with Ari Ronick, who set the previous record in 2006, for the most strikeouts in a single season in franchise history at 52.

He came into the game to relieve Baker in the eighth inning, striking out five of the last six batters of the contest.  He now has 57 strikeouts and looks to not only to increase his current strikeout record, but to help the POWER win the SCCBL title.

“I looked up the record when I had 30 strikeouts,” said Santhon. “The POWER has always been a great team and to hold a record for them is pretty cool.”

The record for career strikeouts with the POWER is 68. Trevor York accumulated that number over three seasons, from 2006-2008.

The POWER have always been the team to beat, ever since their inaugural season.  Since 2004, the POWER have proved to be one of the elite teams in the nation, collecting 270 wins and only 86 losses (a .758 winning percentage).  Currently, the POWER have risen to the #17 spot in the national rankings, according to Perfect Game USA.

Just like Baker, Santhon’s approach in the playoffs will be business as usual.

“My mentality going out [to the mound] is they can’t touch me,” said Santhon on keeping up the pace through the remainder of the season and playoffs. “I am going to keep going after them.”