Beyer’s Fetzer stymies Enochs in key MMC baseball matchup

Last season, when Chase Fetzer was called up to Beyer High’s varsity for the team’s postseason run, the right-handed pitcher had a heart-to-heart with Patriots ace Micah Hall, who would go on to be named The Bee’s Player of the Year.

“I just told him that being at that (varsity) level for third year, I had learned that getting ahead of hitters is a big thing,” said Hall, now pitching at Cal State Stanislaus. “And that if you don’t, you can get into a lot of trouble.”

Message received.

Fetzer turned in a very Hall-like performance on Wednesday, blanking Sylvan Avenue rival Enochs 3-0 in a key Modesto Metro Conference matchup.

The 6-foot-4, 165-pound junior, nearly identical in stature to Hall, scattered five hits, walked one and struck out three in an economical 91-pitch effort. Of the 29 batters he faced, Fetzer threw a first-pitch strike to 18 and he retired the leadoff batter of the inning all seven times.

“My slider was working well today,” said Fetzer, who improved his record to 4-2 and lowered his ERA to 1.43. “I knew if I could get ahead, I could throw it and see if they’d chase it.”

Fetzer knew all too well what was riding on Wednesday’s Modesto Metro Conference baseball game against Sylvan Avenue rival Enochs.

The schools, located two miles apart in east Modesto, entered the week with matching 6-0 league records.

The Eagles took Game 1 6-5 at the always-windy Dick Windemuth Field on Monday, in part due to mental lapses by the Patriots on bunt-coverage situations – mistakes in which Fetzer played a role.

“I felt like I owed it to my team today,” said Fetzer, who plays first base when he’s not pitching. “I felt like I kind of blew the game on Monday.”

If Enochs could steal Game 2 on the road at Paul Corwell Field, they’d be assured of closing the week with no worse than a one-game lead in the standings. But it was clear from the outset that Fetzer was ready to make amends.

“Chase Fetzer did a good job of keeping the ball down, but our boys hit a lot of balls on the nose,” said Enochs skipper Chris Butterfield. “They were just right at ’em. We had a few chances, but Chase was tough and got out of it.

“It was a frustrating day, but hopefully we can get back on track Friday.”

Trevor Ravelli drove in the only run Fetzer would need, singling home Michael Scott, who reached with a one-double in the fourth. Tyler Orique, who walked behind Scott, would later score on an error for a 2-0 lead. Jordan Walls, who was robbed of extra bases Monday in a game-changing play by Eagles first baseman Adrian Gonzales, doubled home Ravelli.

Wednesday’s result sets up Friday’s rubber match, in which Beyer will send to the mound junior Josh Escobar (3-0). The right-hander always throws from the stretch and has yet to be removed from a game this season.

Enochs will counter with Ryan Davis, a senior southpaw.

“Ryan’s not a hard thrower and he’s not a thumber,” said Butterfield. “He’s a strike-thrower and he’s a pretty smart little pitcher. It should make for an interesting game on Friday.”

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 8:34 PM with the headline "Beyer’s Fetzer stymies Enochs in key MMC baseball matchup."