Providence Baseball Falls 4-1 to Milken in Liberty League

Providence baseball dropped a 4-1 decision to Milken Community High in Liberty League play Thursday afternoon at Schafer Field at Foy Park, with the Wildcats pulling away on a two-run fifth inning that proved to be the margin the Pioneers could not overcome.

The heat at Foy Park was punishing, and so was Providence’s inability to convert baserunners into runs. The Pioneers left five runners on base with fewer than two outs, a stretch of missed opportunities that head coach Mando Contreras pointed to immediately after the game.

“The difference was our timely hitting early in the game. We left five on base with less than two outs and couldn’t capitalize,” Contreras said. “We have good enough pitching to hold teams to a low number.”

Providence drew first blood in the bottom of the first. Senior Asa Langlois walked and reached second on a single to center by senior Kiran Kostecka. A bloop to right field by senior Dylan Sarkisian sent Langlois to third, and he scored on a Milken error. Seven batters came to the plate that inning. Only one run scored.

Milken answered in the second. Freshman Drew Steinberg opened the frame with a single to left, moved to second on a passed ball, reached third on a grounder, and crossed home on a throwing miscue. The game was tied at 1-1 on an error, not a hit, which set the tone for how the afternoon would unfold.

The Wildcats took their first lead in the fourth. Senior Jared Dunn reached on a two-out infield hit, stole second, and moved to third on an infield single by junior Jordan Brown. Another Providence error let Dunn score, and Milken led 2-1.

The fifth inning closed the door. Six Wildcats came to the plate. Senior Jonah Hershko singled to right center, and then Contreras made a calculated move, intentionally walking sophomore Dane Silverman to set up a favorable pitcher-batter matchup. It didn’t work. Steinberg, the same freshman who had sparked the Milken second inning, drove a two-run double to left field, pushing the lead to 4-1.

Contreras was candid about the gamble. “Today, I gambled and walked a lefty intentionally to set up a matchup that favored our pitcher. We left one up, then he capitalized with a two-out double. Good for him.”

On the mound, the Pioneers got respectable work from two pitchers. Kostecka started and went two-plus innings, surrendering three hits while striking out three, walking one, and hitting two batters. Junior Cade Mackenzie came on and worked five innings, fanning two, walking one, and giving up four hits. Contreras was not wrong about his pitching. Four runs allowed is a total a capable offense should be able to chase down.

For Milken, sophomore Benjamin Bedil started and went four innings, striking out three, walking two, and allowing four hits. Junior Aidan Pereg closed out the final two frames.

Providence managed just four hits on the day. Langlois had a productive game, reaching base multiple times. Senior Arlo Wicke reached on a two-out infield single in the fourth inning but was stranded.

The loss moves Providence to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in Liberty League play, a position that still keeps the Pioneers competitive in the standings but leaves little margin for the kind of situational hitting breakdowns that cost them Thursday. Milken, sitting at 3-6 overall but 1-0 in league play after the win, will carry some momentum out of Burbank.

Providence’s schedule does not ease up, and the league record will matter more than the overall mark as the season tightens. The Pioneers have the pitching Contreras describes. Whether the offense can catch up to it is the question that needs answering before league play gets further along.