Chaminade comes out on top this time against Alemany, 2-0
Mathew Troupe of West Hills Chaminade didn’t need any pep talk for his team’s Mission League baseball opener against Mission Hills Alemany on Tuesday.
“We’ve been thinking about this game since last season,” Troupe said. “They took the Mission League from us.”
The Eagles needed one victory to earn the league title in the final week. It didn’t happen because Alemany swept the Eagles, including a 1-0 triumph in the regular-season finale.
So there was Troupe on the mound against Alemany and the pitcher who beat the Eagles, Cody Thompson.
This time, Troupe was determined to produce a different ending. He struck out 10, walked one and allowed three hits in a 2-0 Chaminade victory.
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He finished with a flourish, striking out the final four batters. Chaminade improved to 4-2 overall.
“He’s one of the best in California,” Chaminade outfielder Brandon Rapoport said of Troupe, who signed with Arizona and has an 89 mph fastball.
Chaminade’s bats came alive, with Rapoport and Cole Rutherford each contributing a home run to help inflict a rare defeat on Thompson (2-1). Rutherford also had a triple and made a leaping catch to save a run in the fourth inning.
“We finally got some big hits,” Troupe said.
Alemany (4-2) came in ranked No. 1 in the Southern Section Division 2 coaches’ poll. The Warriors received two hits from the red-hot Corey Sims, who’s 13 for 19 on the season. But Anthony Esparza couldn’t deliver with runners on second and third in the sixth. Troupe struck him out looking with a 3-and-2 curveball.
“I finally got the curveball working,” Troupe said.
Troupe is used to pressure-filled moments. As a freshman, he pitched at Dodger Stadium when he played for Granada Hills, throwing a 1-0 shutout in the City Invitational final. He has been Chaminade’s starting catcher for three seasons, but his ability to throw strikes with good velocity on the mound could be where his future rests.
The two teams are scheduled to play again Friday at Alemany.
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