D’Evelyn freshman brilliant throwing 1-hit shutout in 4A/3A Jeffco League opener
DENVER — Remember the name Jake Seda.
The D’Evelyn freshman got the start on the mound in the Jaguars’ Class 4A/3A Jeffco League baseball opener against rival Green Mountain on Tuesday at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.
Seda didn’t show any nerves throwing a 1-hit, complete-game shutout in a 6-0 victory for D’Evelyn (10-5, 1-0 in league).
“I’m not surprised. He has been throwing well all year long,” D’Evelyn coach Dan Porreco said of Seda. “He is our bulldog. He goes out and has no fear. We are really impressed with what he did.”
Seda faced just three batters over the minimum over the seven innings. The only hit he allowed was a single by sophomore Royce Pina in the fourth inning. The freshman did get in a bit of a jam in the fifth inning walking a pair, but got a key strikeout with runners at second and third to end the inning.
“This game I was just aiming to go in and do the best I can,” Seda said of his 13 strikeout performance. “Not putting too much pressure on myself. I was confident.”
Porreco was confident his freshman could finish the game despite getting up in pitch count and facing stress in the fifth inning. Seda cruised through the sixth inning and finished the game in style striking out the side in the top of the seventh to end the game.
He retired the final seven batters he faced.
“He can throw all day and we knew he could do it,” Porreco said of Seda throwing a complete-game. “It did get a little scary there. We got a few guys warmed up in the bullpen just in case.”
Seda didn’t need any help in picking up his third win in his last three starts and recording his first shutout victory. The freshman sounded years above his age after the game.
“At the end of the game if it is a win or loss you have to ask yourself, ‘Did you put everything on the field? Did you go 110 percent? If you didn’t there is something you need to work on,” Seda said. “When I leave the field I ask my self that. If it is not, I change it right away.”
D’Evelyn came into Tuesday’s rivalry game on a 4-game winning streak where the Jaguars have scored double-digit runs in all four games. It wasn’t an explosive offense for the Jaguars against Green Mountain (3-12, 0-1).
The Jaguars chipped out three runs in the third inning off Green Mountain starting pitcher sophomore Cooper Jones. Sophomores Chase Beardsley and Leo Vigil both walked to start the inning. Beardsley would score on a throwing error and Vigil was driven home on an RBI single by sophomore Marshall Pharris.
Pharris scored on a wild pitch to make it a 3-0 lead for the Jaguars.
Beardsley had an RBI single in the fourth inning to push the lead to 4-0. Sophomore Cameron McLetchie singled and junior Jack Lee doubled in the sixth inning. Both scored to give Seda a 6-0 lead going to the seventh inning.
“Coach (Porreco) pushes us in practice and I think that helps us in games,” Seda said. “I think the whole team is confident right now. A 5-game winning streak is good.”
D’Evelyn continues league play at Pomona on Thursday, April 23. The Jaguars host Conifer on Saturday, April 25, to close out the week.
“It has been a long season already,” Porreco said. “Now we have this run of nine league games. We’re ready.”
Green Mountain got out to a rough 0-9 start this season, but the Rams won 3 of 5 over the last few weeks before entering conference play. Green Mountain is at Conifer this Thursday before hosting Dakota Ridge on Saturday.
The 9-game 4A/3A Jeffco League schedule started up Tuesday across Jeffco. Everyone will attempt to dethrone Golden. The Demons are trying to win an unprecedented sixth straight conference title.
No Jeffco baseball program has ever captured six consecutive league titles. Arvada West (1992 to 1996) and Golden (2021 to 2025) are the only two Jeffco baseball programs who won five straight.
