SGV/WHITTIER PREP SPORTS ZONE BASEBALL ROUNDUP MAY 10, 2022
Harvard Westlake overwhelms La Mirada; San Dimas falls to Villa Park; Charter Oak, Maranatha, Baldwin Park, and Nogales earn wins.
Division 1
Avery Thau pitched a two-hitter in Harvard-Westlake’s 9-0 win over La Mirada on Tuesday. (Escarcega)
Harvard Westlake 9, La Mirada 0: La Mirada coach Jimmy Zurn decided to play the role of “riverboat gambler,” is starting freshmen pitcher Paul Dominguez in a second-round game against visiting Harvard-Westlake. Unfortunately for Zurn and the Matadores, the gamble didn’t pay off. Dominguez had trouble with the control in the first inning with Harvard Westlake pushing across four runs, which proved to be the difference in the win.
Owen Carlson had the big hit of the inning when a two-run single gave the Wolverines a 4-0 lead. Jacob Galloway’s double in the second inning, off relief pitcher, Ryan Coppock brought in two more runs for a 6-0 lead and Kai Caranto’ s single to center tallied two more runs in the sixth inning.
In the meantime, La Mirada couldn’t seem to figure out crafty left-handed pitcher Avery Thau, who threw a complete-game two-hitter and struck out three. He also got help from La Mirada hitters who only allowed Thau to throw 5 pitches in the second, 10 pitches in the third, and four pitches in the fourth.
Aidan Haller had the only hit for the Matadors with a single in the first inning until the seventh when La Mirada got the bases loaded with two outs. However, Benjamin Kim flied out to center field to end the game.
Harvard-Westlake will host JSerra on Friday.
Villa Park 9, San Dimas 8: In one of the wilder games in the division on Tuesday, the Saints held an 8-4 lead but succumbed to Villa Park’s offensive attack as the Spartans scored a run in the fifth, two more in the sixth and pushed across the winning run in the top of the seventh for a thrilling second-round win. Villa Park won the game when A.J Krodel hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning that scored Jack Burke with the winning run. The Saints had a chance to win the game when they loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. However, Landon White grounded into a force play that ended the game. Robert Castillo had a huge day for the Saints with two hits and three RBIs.
Huntington Beach 13, Bishop Amat 0: It was a tough day for Lancer hits as Ben Jacobs held them to three hits and struck out seven in five innings of work in a home win for the Oilers.
Orange Lutheran 10, Bonita 5: Bonita had plans for an upset of the top-seeded Lancers as they scored four runs in the first inning. Three of those runs came on run-scoring singles by JT Fenton Garrett Patterson and Daniel Munoz. However, the Lancers scored four runs in the fourth inning and two more in the fifth to earn a second-round win. Fenton and Seth Wrightstone had two hits and Luke Mistone banged out a double.
Division 2
Maranatha 4, Quartz Hill 2: The Minuteman got their offense going early by scoring three runs in the first inning and that was all Jacob Yun needed as he held Quartz Hill to one run on four hits and fanned five in five innings of work in a second-round win. Dylan Zdunek was credited with the only RBI of the game for Maranatha. Mikey Ebner got the final two outs in the seventh inning and picked up the save. Maranatha will have a road game against Lakewood on Friday.
Division 3
Charter Oak 5, Grace Brethren 0: Senior Evan Avitia has been the leader for the Chargers all season long on the mound and that was certainly the case on Tuesday as he had the pitching performance of the day for the Chargers as he tossed a complete-game two-hitter and struck out nine in a home win. Avitia also contributed offensively with two hits and drove in a run. Dave Montoya, Diego Ortiz, and Alejandro Blandquet each had two hits. Blandquet’s hits were doubles. Charter Oak will have a home quarterfinal game against La Sierra on Friday.
In other action:
La Quinta 4, Monrovia 3:
Division 4
El Modena 2, La Salle 1: Drew Rodriguez’s single in the top of the sixth inning scored Jackson Licata with the eventual winning run as El Modena ended the Lancers’ season with an exciting second-round win at Arcadia County Park. David Mysza went 4 1/3 scoreless innings for La Salle, allowing four hits and fanning three hitters. AJ Beltre, Andrew Boecking, and Mysza each a hit for La Salle.
Aquinas 5, Flintridge Prep 0: Cade Nolan proved to be too much for the Wolves to handle as he threw a one-hitter and struck out 10 in the Falcons' win over the Wolves. Spencer Seid was the only Flintridge Prep player to get a hit.
Valencia/Valencia 3, California 2: The Vikings rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning that proved to be the difference in a second-round win. Ben Montanez scratched out two hits and drove in a run for Cal High. Angel Miranda drove in the other run for Cal. Wil Valenzuela allowed two runs on six hits and struck out four in 6 1/3 innings on the mound.
South Torrance 3, El Rancho 1: The Spartans broke a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning by scoring two runs to defeat the host Dons. Steven Segura drove in Jeremiah Montecino with El Ranchos only run in the bottom of the sixth inning that tied the game at 1-1. Junior Justin Cardenas allowed two runs on six hits and struck out six in six innings of work on the mound for El Rancho.
Division 5
Nogales 9, Northwood 8: Mikey Zabala doubled in Luis Barajas with the go-ahead run in the Nobles’ win. Nate Camonte threw the final 3 innings to pick up the win.
Temple City 3, Valley View 1: Sophomore Cayden Bonura turned in a solid performance for the Rams as he allowed one run on two hits and struck out seven in a complete-game effort in a road win over the Eagles.
Division 6
Whittier Christian 7, Trinity Classical Academy 3: The Heralds scored three runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals with a home win. Jeff Rojas had two hits and drove in two runs. Connor Green, Isaiah Sanborn, and Jonnie Romas each banged out two hits. Green allowed two earned runs on eight hits and struck out five in a complete-game effort. Whittier Christian will travel to Anaheim for a quarterfinal game on Friday.
San Gorgonio 3, Arroyo 1: Aaron Martinez drove in Joseph Enriquez with the only run of the game in the fifth inning of a second-round loss. Julian Barajas had two hits.
Division 7
Baldwin Park 5, Temecula Prep 3: The Braves rallied from a 2-0 deficit by scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and held on for a home quarterfinal win. Jason Martinez’s single to center scored Michael Martinez and Ricky Rodriguez with the eventual game-winning runs in the fourth inning. Jordan Davis allowed two runs on three hits and struck out three in four innings of work and picked up the win. Baldwin Park will take a trip to the mountains as they take on Big Bear on Friday.