RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Despite dropping their Metro League opener 8-0 at home against McClatchy on Tuesday, March 11, the Cordova Lancers came away feeling like they can compete with anyone. 

The game was much closer than the score would indicate, as the Lancers (3-4-1 overall, 0-1 Metro League at press time) said their mistakes were self-imposed, due to a case of nerves entering a contest against one of the top teams in the state.

The Lancers would walk a combined 10 batters and committed five errors against McClatchy (7-0 overall, 1-0 Metro League at press time), and only allowed seven hits.

Lancers' junior pitcher Levi Nyberg had an uncharacteristic game, surrendering six runs in the first four innings, and Cordova head coach Scott Ahlstrom said his teams' performance was not an indication of what his team is truly made of. 

"Every once in a while, a pitcher has a game where they just don't have it," Ahlstrom said. "He (Nyberg) didn't have his usual stuff, didn't have his usual command, and we just gave them too many free batters. Combined, I think we walked 10 batters. That being said, the score was misleading because we made five errors and they only had a few hits off of us (seven). If we get them again with Levi (Nyberg) on the mound, we'll beat them."

For the Lions, junior Matt Cuevas led the way with two hits and two runs batted in (RBIs). Five other batters recorded a hit for McClatchy. Nyberg would record three strikeouts for the Lancers but perhaps the most impressive outing came from freshman Nate Jones, who only gave up one run and tallied four strikeouts in three innings pitched. 

After the game, Ahlstrom's message to his team was simple.

"This is what happens when you play a team that is squared away and everybody doesn't do their jobs," he said. "This is what happens, this is a good example of that. But I also told them they were a couple more competitive at-bats and a couple mistakes away from actually competing with that team. Take away some confidence knowing that if we do our job the right way, we can compete."

Additionally, Ahlstrom said that his team will be playing their best baseball down the stretch of the season, after starting their year with a very tough slate of games in preparation for league play.

"I'm seeing a lot of growth and seeing a lot of guys playing for each other," Ahlstrom said. "Especially knowing that we're not as deep top to bottom as some of these other top tier teams but we're still able to compete with them. We've played a really tough schedule so far and our strength of schedule is really good within the state right now, and I really do think we're going to surprise some people."

Cordova will get their rematch on the road at McClatchy on Monday, March 24, with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.