Darra McLintock
In their first game of the season, Aragon’s varsity baseball team secured a 5-0 victory over Washington on Feb. 26.
The win was a well-rounded effort, with contributions from multiple players, including key performances on the mound and at the plate.
Senior Dalton Kane was a standout on the mound, striking out six batters and allowing just one hit. His control was crucial, as he kept the Washington hitters off-balance for most of the game.
“My goal was just to put the ball in the zone, let my defense work and get ahead in the count early,” Kane said.
His ability to utilize some key pitches, as well as trust his defense behind him was a major factor in the team’s shutout win.
“My fastball was definitely getting a lot of swing and misses,” Kane said. “My slider, in particular, was missing a lot of barrels.”
Senior Mason Miller, who also contributed from the mound, pitched well in his relief outing, adding to the team’s strong pitching depth. Miller’s performance provided a complement to Kane’s appearance, helping the team maintain control of the game.
“Mason came in and did a great job for us,” said head coach Don Hahn. “It’s great to have that kind of depth in our pitching staff, and Mason was really effective in his time on the mound.”
Offensively, the team capitalized on the opportunities they were given, with seniors Ian Chang and Cole Sloan each recording one of the four hits.
Chang, who went 1-for-3 in the game, acknowledged that the offense still has room for improvement.
“We had great pitching today, and our defense was solid,” Chang said. “Our hitting might need a little work, but overall, we did enough to get the win.”
The team has been preparing both physically and mentally for the season through daily practices.
“Mentally, I just visualize before the game and focus on what pitches I’m looking for when I’m at the plate,” Chang said.
On defense, outfielder Adi Shankar and shortstop Jordan Kiaaina made several key plays to keep Washington from generating any significant offense.
Following these plays, Kane was quick to praise his defense.
“Adi Shankar made a great catch,” Kane said. “And [Kiaaina] at shortstop is amazing to have.”
Hahn also noted that while there are areas to improve, the team is heading in the right direction, especially on the mound.
“We’re going to rely on our pitching,” Hahn said. “If our pitching holds up and comes through, we’ll be in every game.”
The team expects to carry the momentum of this sweeping victory on to their upcoming league games, focusing on an effective offense and defense. The team’s next game is scheduled at home for March 15 at 11 a.m. against Carlmont.
