The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
If the Millikan baseball team makes a run in the playoffs, senior Maison Crommie’s five-inning outing on Tuesday will be a big reason why.
The senior got the start against Beckman in the second round as the team went on the road against a talented team while facing hot conditions.
Crommie did his part, putting in five innings of work, striking out six batters, scattering five hits, with one walk and giving up only one run as the Rams defeated Beckman 3-1.
“I just have to attack,” Crommie said of his mentality heading into his start. “Just attack them. I know my defense has my back. Just let guys put the ball in play, I know we got it.”
“He hasn’t been in this situation a bunch, but getting that hit against Wilson in the third inning really prepared him for this,” Millikan coach Ron Keester added. “He went out and gave us five innings and allowed just one run. That’s what kept us in the game.”
While Crommie had a stellar start for the Rams, Beckman senior right-hander Kavin Patel countered the Rams lineup with his change up and off speed pitches as he retired Millikan in order to start the game.
Crommie followed with his own 1-2-3 inning as the teams went scoreless in the first frame. Patel retired the first six batters and in the bottom of the second Beckman got the first baserunner when Patel singled on a hopper that bounce over second baseman.
Moe McEvoy gave the home team a 1-0 lead when he singled that allowed Anton Le to score after his hit went past the right fielder who was attempting to field it.
Crommie went right back to work as he struck out the next batter as the Rams trailed 1-0 after the second. The teams both went scoreless in the third and fourth innings and in the fifth inning Lucas Helig hit a two-out single as the Rams tried to get something going.
After Joaquin Gutierrez came in as a courtesy runner for Helig, Jacob Amado came in and singled to right. The Rams tied the game 1-1 after Ethan Barrientos singled to push the tying run across.
Beckman followed that up with a pitching change as they moved Sean Franco from first to relieve Patel. He followed that with a strikeout to keep the game even at 1-1.
Crommie’s day was finished after he retired the Patriots in order in the fifth. Senior Daunte Bell came in as relief for Crommie after that.
After two scorless innings, the game went into extras as the teams were knotted at 1-1 after the seventh.
Barrientos got the Rams going in the eighth with a leadoff single. He eventually moved to third after Shane Walley hit a sac bunt but the throw was off the mark which allowed Barrientos to make it 90 feet from home.
Adrian Ramirez made the most of the opportunity as he singled to right for the go-ahead RBI as the Rams took a 2-1 lead.
“My first two strikes, I was too aggressive,” Millikan’s Adrian Ramirez said. “I was chasing and getting out of my comfort zone. On the third pitch, he left one hanging. I saw it well, and I was like, ‘Go for it.’ I hit it pretty good, and we scored.”
Xavier Kennard followed that with his own single and Bell put the final touches on the game as he hit an RBI single to push the lead to 3-1.
Bell capped the win with a 1-2-3 eighth as Millikan took the win. They will now host Summit on Friday in the quarterfinals.
“This is my first time,” Ramirez said of making it to the third round. “I’ve been on varsity for four years, and this is my first time winning two playoff games and going to the quarterfinals. It’s a great feeling, and I’m blessed.”
