Just Like Old Times for Wolf and Evans

Keith Evans and Randy Wolf used to match shutout inning for shutout inning playing for opposing teams in the West Hills Pony League. Now they pitch for nationally ranked Division I college teams, but the result hasn’t changed.

Not until Wolf ran out of steam and California scored two runs off his successor was the outcome decided in the Bears’ 2-0 nonconference victory over Pepperdine on Friday.

Evans, Cal’s junior right-hander from Crespi High, pitched out of trouble in each of the first five innings and sailed through the sixth before reaching a predetermined pitch count.

Wolf, Pepperdine’s sophomore left-hander from El Camino Real, allowed only two hits in six innings and exited after walking the first two batters in the seventh.

John Workman (0-1) pitched out of that jam but allowed single runs in the eighth and ninth to absorb the loss.

A bloop single and stolen base by Dan Cey, another El Camino Real graduate, set up a run-scoring single by Gavin Brown for Cal’s first run. Cey, the Cal shortstop, also doubled and was the only player on either team with two hits.

Cal left-hander Mike Miller (1-0), who replaced Evans, earned the victory. Drew Fischer earned his first save by retiring the side in the ninth.

“The hitters were overmatched on both sides,” Pepperdine Coach Pat Harrison said.

Both schools opened with victories earlier this week over lesser opponents, and this qualified as the teams’ first big game of the season. Cal (2-0) is ranked No. 5 and Pepperdine (1-1) No. 7 by Collegiate Baseball magazine.

Wolf, who walked four and struck out five, retired 13 of the first 14 batters he faced, allowing only a single in the third to Jim Schmidt. He ran into trouble only in the fifth.

With one out he walked Brown, and with two out walked Pete Economos. Wolf bore down, however, striking out John Fustenthal to end the inning.

Meanwhile, Evans made key pitches with two out and runners on either second or third in each of the first five innings. He struck out only one and allowed eight baserunners. Pepperdine had four hits, three walks and one hit batsman against Evans--but no runs.

“I fell behind hitters and struggled with my curve,” Evans said. “But I am happy they kept putting doughnuts on the scoreboard.”