The teams’ respective records going into this one didn’t point to a Righetti run rule win against Lompoc, but that is what went down in this Mountain League baseball game at Righetti Wednesday.
The Warriors rolled to a 16-3 win. The game was called after the top of the fifth inning because of the 10-run rule. Righetti moved to 5-5, 1-3. The Braves are 7-5, 1-2.
Righetti racked up 12 hits Wednesday. Lompoc pitchers walked a total of 11.
“We were more aggressive in our at-bats today and were in the game the whole way today,” said Righetti senior center fielder Kamron Walker. “We had more good at-bats than usual.”
“We were patient,” said Righetti third baseman Graysen Cole. Cole, with three hits and a walk, reached base on all four of his plate appearances.
Walker and Righetti left fielder Nolan Roberts both had three RBIs. Righetti right fielder Noah Kesner, catcher Dominic Nevarez and designated hitter Max Villegas had two.
Righetti got rolling early and scored five times in the first. Roberts drew a bases loaded walk for the first run, and Walker came home on a walk for the second. Nevarez smashed a two-run double to left field and Niko Verduzco singled home another run.
Every Righetti batter reached base multiple times, via either hit or walk. Six Righetti batters had at least one hit.
“I feel like we were ready when a good pitch came,” said Walker. After the five-run first inning, Righetti scored three runs in the second inning, and three times each in the third and fourth.
Sign up to receive headlines in your inbox!
Breaking News | Local Sports | Daily Headlines | Local Obituaries | Weather | Local Offers
The Righetti defense was error-free. Righetti relief pitcher Gabriel Rodriguez finished the game with a flourish, getting the last out on a three-pitch strikeout.
“I threw curveball, slider, fastball,” in that order en route to getting the game ending strikeout, said Rodriguez.
“I challenged them, and they responded to the challenge in every way,” said Righetti coach Kyle Tognazzini. “I’m very proud of our guys.”
Lompoc scored all of its runs in the third. Aiden Vallarta doubled home one run, Ricky Hendrickson singled home another and Jovi Villalobos drove in another with a sacrifice fly.
It was a rough day all around for the Braves. They used four pitchers, and all four struggled. The defense made two errors. A potential Lompoc run in the fourth on a force at second was wiped out on a runner’s interference call.
The call resulted in an inning-ending double play. Lompoc coach Jason Carlson vociferously argued the call, to no avail.
Righetti returned nine players from the 2025 team that finished second in the Mountain League, but the Warriors lost nine graduated seniors.
“We’ve been learning on the fly, for sure,” said Tognazzini.
Righetti will host cross-street rival and two-time defending league champion St. Joseph Friday at 4:30 p.m. Tognazzini and his players said they’ve been pointing for that one. Lompoc will host Arroyo Grande in a league game at the same time.