In the 2nd annual Don Hudson baseball scholarship game, Fullerton won 8-7 over Cypress on Thursday. Before the game, Don Hudson, namesake of the scholarship, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Hudson said he was nervous about throwing the first pitch with everyone watching him, as he delivered the pitch to his longtime friend Rick Bunda, who was behind the plate.
Even though the ball was not in the strike zone, he shrugged it off and pumped his fist in celebration. David Shaw gave a brief presentation about Hudson’s success and what he has done for the Fullerton community. He took pictures with Bunda, Hornets Head Coach Chad Baum, and Chargers Head Coach Anthony Hutting.
“He’s just a great human being that cares; he gives a lot of his time, spends a lot of his hours driving home in traffic, just cares a lot about the programs he’s been involved with and the kids. He’s a good person that wanted to donate something, and he can do that financially, which is beautiful, and that legacy will live forever,” said Baum.
The purpose behind the scholarship was to invest in student-athletes who want to pursue their degree while playing baseball at the next level. Hudson has endowed scholarships at Cypress College, Orange Coast College, and Cal State Fullerton as well.
“When I coached [at Cal State Fullerton], he would go on the road trips with us or be at every home game. He would hang out down the right field line, a super fan at Fullerton, seeing him hang with superfans, who’s an unbelievably great character, and a great fan of our program and other programs as well,” said Baum.
The players enjoy Hudson’s company, whether it’s home or away games. Some of the athletes have taken Hudson’s knowledge and applied it on the field.
“He always helps us slow the game down, he’s really baseball savvy, and he knows his stuff, always trying to get some information out of him,” said Ryan Villanueva.
Certain players enjoy how scholarships can help provide them with the necessary aid to continue their education. Especially Luke Viola, who is in his last season of playing with the Hornets.
“Don’s a great guy, and he’s generous enough to have that scholarship fund for kids, for the future to go to school and play, and make their dreams come true,” said Luke Viola.
The game went back-and-forth throughout, with each team answering one run after another. Game two of the three-game series turned into a bullpen battle. Baum told his players before the game to get runners on base and not leave them stranded. After scoring one run in their 7-1 loss on Tuesday, Fullerton rebounded in a big way.
The Hornets took advantage with runners in scoring position. In the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 6-5, Sean Green came up to the plate. Runners were on the corners with 2 outs, and Green tried to smack the first pitch he saw, but got out in front on a change-up. Baum stared at the pitcher on the mound, hoping that Green would come through.
Green tried to slow himself down and stick to his approach at the plate. Three pitches later, he let the ball travel into the strike zone before ripping it into the right-center field gap. Vazquez scored, and Viola was flying around the bases, as he scored standing up. The Hornets took a 7-6 lead.
“The best thing about [Green] is that he’s a coachable kid that wants to get better. He doesn’t whine and cry when he fails at certain things. He goes out there and does his best job,” said Baum.
In the top of the seventh inning, with two runners on and nobody out, Hornets relief pitcher Nico Rodriguez got into a jam. Chargers designated hitter John Short stepped into the batter’s box. On the first pitch, he lined a ball off Rodriguez’s leg, as it ricocheted over to Carlos Barrios at first base. Barrios stepped on the bag for the out as runners advanced to second and third on the play.
Rodriguez was down briefly before getting back up. He exited the game as Baum went to the bullpen. Hornets reliever Nate Walraven took the mound. Chargers center-fielder Ty Peters came up to the plate. Walraven walked Peters to load the bases. The Hornets dugout was furious, telling the home plate umpire that he’s been calling the inside pitches strikes.
Especially a few inches off the plate. Walraven would walk Chargers third baseman Braden Ruiz to tie the game at 7-7. Hornets catcher Nate Pone went out to visit Walraven after throwing another ball. Walraven was showing a little bit of frustration from the lack of strikes being called. He settled in and was able to get out of it with an inning-ending double play.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, with a runner on second and one out, Viola stepped into the batter’s box. On a 1-1 count, Viola found a pitch he liked and grounded it over to the left side of the infield. He went past the shortstop into left field for a hit. Jake Starr got an excellent read off the hit, and the Hornets’ third base coach waved him home.
Chargers left fielder Derek Gonzales got to the ball, but it trickled underneath his glove. Gonzales was looking up to see where Starr was in the process. Viola looked over at his bench, pulling the train whistle. The fans were fired up after the go-ahead run scored, making it 8-7 Fullerton.
“I got in a situation where I had a runner on second base, with less than two outs, and he was making some good pitches, and I got a pitch to hit. I saw [Aaron Rowand] waving him home, and thankfully enough, the left fielder kicked the ball, and we scored,” said Viola.
In the ninth inning, after a hit-by-a-pitch to Wyatt Joyce, Hornets closer Murdoch Taylor sealed the victory by striking out the side to end the game. The Hornets are now 2-0 on Don Hudson Day.
Back in the second inning, with the Hornets trailing 2-0, Ryan Villanueva came up to the plate. Barrios was on first base, with two outs. Villanueva fell behind in the count 0-2. He was able to regain his focus and sat on a fastball that caught the middle of the plate. Villanueva did not miss, as he smashed it into left field and over the wall for a 2-run homer to tie the game at 2.
“I was thinking stick to my approach, stay on the heater, just try to get the next guy up to the plate. Got a fastball and I was on time,” said Villanueva.
The Hornets will travel to Cypress for the rubber match of a three-game series on Friday. Game time is at 2 p.m.
