Warren High School’s baseball team secured a hard-fought victory against Millikan High School, winning 3-1 in a nonleague game at Blair Field on March 7, 2026. The standout performance came from pitcher Jeremiah Juarez, who delivered a stellar outing, while catcher Ivan Perez drove in three crucial runs to propel the Bears to their fifth win of the season.
The game featured a pitching duel between Juarez and Millikan’s Daunte Bell. While hits were scarce, an error from the Millikan infield opened the door for the Bears, allowing them to capitalize on their opportunities. Juarez earned the victory after allowing just one run on a single hit over five innings, striking out two and issuing two walks.
Initially, Juarez faced challenges with his command, trailing 1-0 after the first inning. “I was trying to adjust to the mound, really,” Juarez explained. “I tried to work on my fastball command, and obviously, my offspeed pitches need to be effective in order to keep a team like this down.”
Despite the early setback, Juarez regrouped and dominated thereafter, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters. He turned the game over to reliever Andres Haro, who secured a six-out save.
Missed Opportunities for Millikan
Millikan’s Bell showcased his talent throughout the game, striking out nine batters and allowing only two hits. Unfortunately for the Rams, he took the loss as the team could not capitalize on their scoring chances. Coach Ron Keester acknowledged Bell’s performance, stating, “He’s a tough customer… Unfortunately, things didn’t work out our way.”
The turning point for Warren came in the fourth inning. Josue Evangelista reached base due to an error, which was followed by singles from Jose Eljaik and Carlos Navarro, loading the bases. Perez then came through with a decisive bases-clearing double that turned the tide in favor of the Bears.
“(Bell) is a DI athlete, he’s going to pitch at the next level,” said Warren coach Cesar Martinez. “It was just one big hit from our catcher, Ivan Perez, and that was the difference maker.”
As the game progressed, Bell faced difficulties in the fourth inning. Although he had not allowed a hit to the first 12 batters, the error and subsequent hits changed the momentum.
Closing the Game
Haro’s performance was critical in maintaining the lead. He faced some pressure in the sixth inning, allowing two walks before striking out a batter and seeing another picked off at first base. Keester noted the missed opportunities, stating, “They took advantage of their opportunity and we weren’t able to.”
Ultimately, Warren’s ability to capitalize on a single chance proved decisive in this closely contested match. The Bears improved to a record of 5-1, while Millikan fell to 3-4. The game underscored the importance of seizing opportunities in the competitive landscape of high school baseball.
As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on this experience, with Warren aiming for continued success and Millikan seeking to bounce back in their upcoming games.
