6th Annual Coach Calderone Classic Shines Bright Over the Weekend
The 6th annual Coach Calderone Classic nearly doubled expanding to ten teams this year, and the action doubled with it!
This year, hosted by #14 Arizona Christian, featured returners #19 Mid-America Nazarene,Oklahoma Panhandle State. As well as Benedictine Mesa, Nelson (AZ), Westcliff, Nelson (TX), Simpson, Embry-Riddle, and #15 Taylor University.
The stories emerging out of the tournament were the ups-and-downs from #19 ranked MNU, and #14 Arizona Christian squeaking out a couple to start the season perfect
Ranked Struggles
#19 Mid-America Nazarene began the tournament with a bang, beating Benedictine Mesa 16-4 Thursday night. What followed was nothing short of trouble. The Pioneers finished with a 2-6 loss to Westcliff in a 12-inning puncher and a 5-6 loss to Embry-Riddle. It was were Embry-Riddle’s only win of the tournament (E-R went 1-2 and Westcliff went 3-1).
Even more troubling, MNU was without their NAIA Pre-Season All-American and HB Pre-Season All-Conference star Noah Castillo. Castillo took one at-bat against Benedictine Mesa, a flyout to CF, and disappeared the rest of the invitational.
MNU’s offensive success this year really relies on Castillo being back by their official regular season start. On the other hand, fellow HB Pre-Season All-Conference pick Drew Woodley had a great weekend batting .385/.500/.538 with 4 runs, a triple, and a pair of RBI’s. But he needs his fellow star to make a run at Lewiston.
Hometown Heroes
#14 Arizona Christian played host to the festivities this weekend, and they did not disappoint.
The Firestorm won game one by a score of 5-4. They followed that up with an impressive 10-0 mercy rule of Nelson (TX), and finished with a 3-2 win in a much-anticipated ranked matchup with #15 Taylor.
They were led through the invitational by P/DH Trey Tarver, who ended up being their best hitter and a lights-out pitcher. He hit .556/.692/.889 with 2 runs and 5 RBI, and threw 5 IP, allowing a single run, and fanning 9 for a ridiculous 16.2 K/9.
Tarver helps set ACU up for a potential top-10 push in the Week 1 HB Rankings.
After the game, head coach Joe McDonald told ACU media “It's always great to honor and celebrate the life of Coach Calderon with a win. He was a great man, a good friend, and he is missed”