Prep baseball: Simkins propels Fremont to 12-5 win over Syracuse
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- Fremont High’s Owen Simkins rounds third to score in a Region 1 baseball game against Syracuse on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Fremont High’s Jace Hadley attempts a bunt in a Region 1 baseball game against Syracuse on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- The umpire signals a safe call as Syracuse High’s Easton Hamblin, lower left, recovers after sliding around the tag of Fremont catcher Kasen Pearson. Syracuse players Bronx Manning (2) and Burkon Beus (19) celebrate behind the play during a Region 1 baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Easton Hamblin, lower left, slides around the tag of Fremont catcher Kasen Pearson while Syracuse players Bronx Manning (2) and Burkon Beus (19) watch the play during a Region 1 baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Fremont High’s Chase Jones rears back to throw a pitch in a Region 1 baseball game against Syracuse on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Ethan Turley slides safely into second base as Fremont’s Owen Simkins, top, tries to corral the ball in a Region 1 baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Ethan Turley (4) races toward third base and Fremont’s Brant Koford (5) in a Region 1 baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Dom Johnatakis reaches for a ground ball during a Region 1 baseball game against Fremont on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Fremont High’s Kurt Dahl celebrate scoring a run against Syracuse in a Region 1 baseball game Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
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- Syracuse High’s Calder Millard runs the bases in a Region 1 baseball game against Fremont on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Syracuse.
SYRACUSE — Fremont senior Owen Simkins shook a little shimmy as he swayed on second base during the fourth inning of a prep baseball game Tuesday at Syracuse.
Simkins had good reason to strut his stuff following his third hit of the game, a two-run double that chased home his third and fourth RBIs on the afternoon.
“I got it (the move) from Kasen Pearson, my teammate. I was excited after a big hit and decided to celebrate,” Simkins said. “It was a good at-bat and I turned out on top.”
His double gave Fremont a 7-4 edge and, though the Titans added a run in the fifth inning, proved to be enough margin for the victory.
“I’m glad I could come out for my team,” Simkins said.
The Silverwolves then broke open a competitive game with five runs in the seventh inning, toppling the Titans 12-5 in a Region 1 tussle.
Batting in the two hole, Simkins finished the game with four hits (two singles, a double and a triple) and a walk in five at-bats, scored a run and drove in six.
“Yesterday we were practicing straight fastballs because we knew that’s what (Syracuse pitcher) Dom (Johnatakis) throws, trying to blow it by us,” Simkins said. “I came up looking for a fastball … every single pitch I hit was a fastball.”
Senior leadoff hitter Jace Hadley set the table for Simkins, reaching base four times with three singles and a walk, scoring three runs.
“I love to get my teammates in position to rack up the RBIs,” Hadley said. “If the first pitch of the at-bat is a fastball down the middle, I’m swinging.
“I’m a way better hitter when I don’t get two strikes on me. I can be picky, but first pitch fastball, I’m hitting it,” Hadley said.
Starting pitcher Chase Jones threw the seven-inning complete game for the Silverwolves, scattering nine hits while striking out three and walking one.
“It makes you feel good to take a game all the way,” Jones said. “In that big seventh inning, my teammates had my back and trusted me to send them down 1-2-3 in the bottom half.”
Fremont built a 4-0 lead after 2 1/2 innings, with Simkins delivering an RBI single in the both first and third.
But Syracuse pulled even in the bottom of the third, breaking through for four runs, keyed by a three-run double from third baseman Calder Millard.
“In my first at-bat, I got a pretty bad call on a high curveball for a strike, so on my second turn I switched my approach; sat on curveball, got it, crushed it and the left fielder misread it,” Millard said.
The tie only lasted until the top of the fourth when Simkins doubled in the deciding runs.
Jones put the bad inning behind him and only allowed a run-producing single by Syracuse catcher Caleb Wilson the rest of the day.
“There were a lot of things (in the third) that didn’t go our way — bad hops, which is just baseball. It happens sometimes,” Jones said. “I had confidence in me and my teammates and closed them down pretty much the rest of the game.
“Move on. You can’t let those things hold you down, because history will repeat itself; bounce back,” Jones said.
Simkins the hitter became Simkins the second baseman, flagging down a hard grounder by Easton Hamblin when Syracuse had loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning, saving at least two runs.
“It was a hard one-hopper and actually got stuck in my glove and I had to whip it out at the last second,” Simkins said. “I was happy to make a play and get us out of that one.”
Johnatakis pitched six innings for the Titans, striking out nine batters with that fastball Fremont was leery of, and yielded nine hits.
The Titans opted for sophomore hurler Connor Wilcox in that fateful seventh inning. Unfortunately, he only lasted 1/3 of an inning, walking four before Simkins capped his perfect day, smashing a two-run triple to seal the win.
“Our pitchers couldn’t find the (strike) zone. He’s (Wilcox) young; he’s lacking confidence right now, but as he gets older, he’ll definitely be good,” Millard said. “Disappointing for sure. Fremont’s always been a good team. We’ve just got to come back and get them tomorrow.”
