Brian Perez (25) started and picked up the win for Heritage in the 10-4 win over Springfield. JOHN DECKER
Brian Perez traded the California sunshine for the erratic weather of Middle Tennessee when he and his family relocated from La Verne, Calif. to White House in January.
Perez transferred from Bonita High School and enrolled at White House Heritage after his father accepted a job with the Nashville Fire Department.
“I wanted some new opportunities,” Brian said. “I visited Tennessee last year and I really just loved it. I loved the vibe. I loved this team. This (Heritage) is one of the first teams I looked at, and I just felt something different.”
The junior Bonita transfer picked up the win in Friday’s 10-4 road win over Springfield, tossing five innings and surrendering four runs on five hits, four walks and six strikeouts.
Head coach Chance Beck said Perez is the fourth or fifth pitcher in the Patriots’ rotation right now. After Friday’s win, Perez has compiled a 2-1 record, allowing 16 earned runs on 29 hits and 18 walks while striking out 16 batters in 16 innings of work this spring.
He is tied with Colton Moore for the third-most innings thrown on the team, behind Tennessee Wesleyan signees Logan Newton and Caleb Cayce.
“Brian’s a great kid. He came in and was looking to work and found his way into a spot in our rotation immediately (while) also getting outfield reps,” Beck said. “But he’s gelled together really nicely to the guys and he’s a competitor that we’re going to rely on if we want to make it to Murfreesboro and go as deep as we think we can.”
Perez’s lone mishap of the night came in the third inning when he surrendered a three-run home run to Springfield (7-9) third baseman Kason Woodson.
Luckily for the Patriots’ starter, Heritage (15-9) had built an 8-0 advantage before he ever toed the rubber. Heritage scored six runs against Springfield starter Javion Ellis before recording an out.
Ellis was relieved by Keegan Fox after 29 pitches. Fox allowed two more runs on three walks in one inning of action before Jontavious Gardner took over.
Luke Mayo was plunked by Perez to lead off the bottom of the third and Fox reached base on an error by Heritage shortstop Dane Hinshaw. Woodson then hit a towering home run that easily cleared the left field wall to put the Yellow Jackets on the board.
“I pitched good tonight. (It was a) good hitter out there,” Perez said. “I knew about him (Woodson) coming into the game and probably could have pitched better to him, but just got to move on and get the next guy.”
Despite its early offensive success, Heritage went four innings without plating its ninth run. Sam Hetzer drew a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fifth that scored Xavier Murray, but Logan Newton flew out to center field in the next at-bat to leave the bases loaded.
Woodson scored his second run of the night in the bottom-half of the fifth when he stole home on a wild pitch to cut Springfield’s deficit to 9-4.
Caleb Cayce hit a sacrifice fly in the seventh to plate Carson Forsythe and extend Heritage’s lead back to six and ultimately give the game its final score.
Ryan Greer and Colton Moore closed the game out with an inning of relief work each. They only allowed one hit between the two of them and struck out three Yellow Jackets.
After a 7-7 start to the season, the Patriots have won eight of their last 10 and are atop the District 6-2A standings with a perfect 4-0 record. They’ll look to clinch the regular-season title when they face East Robertson in a two-game series starting Monday.
“It’s been nice to have everybody back and be together in the classroom every day and talk through things and be on the same page,” Beck said. ”But also just trying to play as tough a schedule as possible early in the year and get us ready for May.That’s always the goal.
“That’s the expectation, and not saying we’re going to be there at the end, but we want to give ourselves the best chance possible. And over time, we’re getting more and more buy-in and guys playing selflessly and playing together and that’s been great for us.”