Freshman pitcher John Paone helped the University of Virginia baseball team secure a 2-1 win against California on May 10, drawing strong applause from fans at Disharoon Park. The victory allowed No. 23 UVA to avoid a series loss and set up a deciding game in the three-game series.
The matchup was important for the Cavaliers, who were seeking to break a four-game losing streak in Atlantic Coast Conference play and maintain their standing in the conference.
Paone delivered his longest outing of the season, pitching seven and two-thirds innings while striking out nine batters, walking none, and allowing only two hits. “I was saying to one of my teammates, this is the loudest the Dish has ever been, not even just that, but all game,” Paone said about the crowd’s reaction. “The fans we have, they’re amazing. They come out, they support no matter what, and it’s great.” Fellow pitcher Kyle Johnson said: “John was unbelievable today. It was a ridiculous performance.” Head coach Chris Pollard commented on Paone’s effort by saying: “He was electric. There were two really good arms going head to head, and John had to match him, and again he was tough enough to do that.” Pollard added: “Whatever it takes… That’s where we are right now. It’s not a Picasso, but whatever it takes to get the job done right now. We’ll fight our way to the other side of this… But in the meantime, just whatever it takes to win a ball game. And we were tough today.”
California took an early lead with Carl Schmidt’s solo home run in the second inning before Paone settled down and retired most of his remaining batters faced. Virginia tied the score at one apiece in the seventh inning following aggressive baserunning by Johnson after an errant pitch got away from Cal catcher Hideki Prather.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s series finale at Disharoon Park—where each team has claimed one win—Johnson will take on starting duties for UVA as they aim for another crucial conference victory.
Pollard reflected on Saturday’s outcome by telling his players that it was “exactly the kind of game that we needed: one where we just had to stay in the fight and find a way to win it.” He continued: “Again, whatever it takes… I like a game like that to kind of get us going.”
