The DVC baseball team shut down West Valley in a 3-0 win.

The Diablo Valley College men’s baseball team played against Saratoga’s West Valley College on Feb. 12. The game started with a single from outfielder, Michael Mann, during the bottom of the first. But it was during the fourth inning where the Vikings would start to make some noise.

The offense picked up during the bottom of the fourth, when first baseman Devin Alexander singled in shortstop Michael Brdar from second to score the first run of the game. After a hit and a runner thrown out at second base, designated hitter Nick Gavello singled, scoring Alexander, giving the Vikings a two run lead.

After being asked about his run batted in, Walnut Creek native Alexander claimed, “it’s always good to get the first run in the game.” He went on to explain that it simply “gets you pumped for the rest of the game.”

After a one, two, three inning during the bottom of the fifth, the Vikings went into the bottom of the sixth with a bit of fire under their belts. After a single and a stolen base from number 31, Cameron Rowland, and a walk to catcher Michael Leal, Gavello singled again, adding another run for the Vikings.

Gavello, an Antioch native, claimed that he was trying to “get on top of the ball” and just “keep getting runs” for his team, in regards to his successful outing with 2 RBIs.

The top of the seventh proved to be an inning where West Valley would try to come back. They had a runner on first and second with two outs, but a pick off play easily ended the inning.

When starting pitcher and Walnut Creek native, Ben Krauth was asked if he nervous or worried during the inning, he claimed that he knew he had to “make a good pitch” and he trusted the “good defense” behind him.

Krauth did a fantastic job, pitching 8 innings, giving up only 4 hits and no runs. The top of the ninth inning opened up with pitcher, Nathan Sax- Simmons. After a hit by a pitch, a walk, and a single, bases were loaded with only one out. Luckily for the Vikings, a double play quickly ended the game and eased the anxiety for the crowd. Great defensive plays and timely hitting were key for this victory.

“The first game of the week is a momentum booster,” explained Alexander after the win. Hopefully that momentum will still be going strong for the upcoming game against Contra Costa College on Feb. 14.