<\/div>\nIt was late March and the Millikan baseball team was 2-6. It looked as though the Rams would be anything but a factor in the Moore League. But Josh Frye and Andrew Culver opened league play by blanking Poly and Wilson, respectively, and the Rams have not looked back.<\/p>\n
The twin towers led a staff that went on what is believed to be an all-time league best 43-inning scoreless streak. And now, Millikan (20-9, 11-0) has wrapped up its first league title since 2001, and are headed to the playoffs as a top seed.<\/p>\n
But before they even think about postseason play, and despite heading in as the league champions, the Rams are locked in on today’s season-ending match up with perennial league power Lakewood at 3:30 at Blair Field.<\/p>\n
Regardless if Millikan ends the 2009 regular season at 11-1 or 12-0, this year will not soon be forgotten, and almost certainly never duplicated.<\/p>\n
Frye (7-3, 1.80 ERA) has four shutouts, five complete games and 57 strikeouts in 64 innings. Frye is unquestionably the Rams ace. The 6-foot-5 junior is on a small list of elite pitchers in the Long Beach-area prep baseball scene, and without a doubt, will be the area’s premiere flame thrower next season.<\/p>\n
Culver (6-4, 2.61 ERA) has struck out 36, has a shutout, and has emerged as what Millikan coach Scott Glasser calls “an outstanding leader.” The senior’s best trait, according to coaches and teammates, is his competitive streak. And watching Frye ascend to the No. 1 spot on the Rams pitching depth chart was something that took time to accept.<\/p>\n
“Of course I want to be the best pitcher on our team and I work real hard to be as good as I possibly can, but Josh has pitched so well and deserves that spot,” Culver said. “If Josh being our No. 1 guy and me being No. 2 makes us the best team possible, then I am fine with it.”<\/p>\n
Culver is hitting .300 with 16 hits and 11 RBI’s, and is usually the designated hitter when Frye is on the mound. Frye and Culver both feed off each other’s performances, and often times try and one-up the other.<\/p>\n
“I think it’s a good thing when two competitive athletes continually try to improve… watching Josh succeed has made me want to be a better pitcher,” Culver said.<\/p>\n
Frye is enjoying his role on the Moore League champions, but looks to continue the magic in the postseason.<\/p>\n
“I knew this was a year that could be very special because we have so many talented seniors, and I want to do my part in getting us to where we want to be,” Frye said. “I look up to Andrew as a senior. I’m glad I have someone that not only pushes me to keep getting better, but he’s a supportive teammate.”<\/p>\n
Frye and Culver have their pitches called by Rams pitching coach Kevin Marchael, who always talks about Frye being in complete control on the bump.<\/p>\n
“When Josh is on the mound, he has this confidence about him that doesn’t always go with having his talent, and he is able to not be affected by the situation around him,” Glasser said. “We knew he was going to be special, we just weren’t quite sure when.”<\/p>\n
Anybody that has followed the Moore League and Millikan this year knows that Frye and Culver are just two pieces of a small, but very close 13-man puzzle. Whether it’s Jonathan Singleton, Brandon Sadler, Emmy Antonaras, Cody Hazel, Matt Clampitt, Paul Slater, Brandon Dopplick, Ralph Davis or Adam Annella, everybody has done their share.<\/p>\n
For Culver, senior catcher Emmy Antonaras has been a calming figure when he has the ball. “Emmy is such a great catcher and wherever I play next year, I want to bring him with me,” Culver said. “He is so good behind the plate that I feel comfortable enough to just go out there and do my job. I can’t imagine pitching without him.”<\/p>\n
“I know I’m just one guy on a team that tries to do anything they can to help my team win games and there isn’t a guy on our roster that isn’t just as responsible as I am for our success,” said Frye.<\/p>\n
Along with all the Rams, Culver and Frye have provided headaches for opposing coaches and garnered their respect.<\/p>\n
“Those guys both stand tall on the mound and dictate the game at a pace they want it to go. No one has been able to stop them,” Jordan coach Marc Prager said. “I have a lot of respect for both of those guys because they basically stand up on the hill and say ‘I’m going to come right after you and lets see what you’ve got.’”<\/p>\n
Coaches around the league believe it’s their ability to mix pitches, speeds and locations that has Frye and Culver on top of the Moore League standings. But it’s also an internal confidence that makes both Frye and Culver tick.<\/p>\n
Said Culver, “When we go out there, we have this mind set that we want to shut a team down, because we know our teammates will make plays behind us, and someone will find a way to come up with a big hit.”<\/p>\n
Anyone that’s been around a championship team knows that Millikan has the recipe for a playoff run. With two front-line pitchers, a superstar in Jonathan Singleton, and a roster full of productive role players, Glasser and his Rams are primed for the first-round.<\/p>\n
Said Frye, “We have the pieces to make a deep run, but we’re a smart team and know baseball is a sport where you have to take each game one at a time. Our school hasn’t won a playoff game in a while, so we’d like that to be the first thing we do and hopefully move on.”<\/p>\n