SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: BASEBALL Roundup, Tuesday, May 27th, 2025

Marshall defeats Heritage Christian in a D6 semifinal; San Dimas and Glendora win to create an all-area D3 final; Mountain View wins a D9 semifinal.

DIVISION 6

Marshall 4, Heritage Christian 3:

PASADENA - It always occurs during the CIFSS baseball playoffs. An overlooked player emerges unexpectedly to become the hero and guide his team to the finals or a championship.

Enter senior Ben Muro onto the stage.

Prior to his plate appearance in the bottom of the 6th inning, Muro had recorded one hit in his last 24 plate appearances, which spans 10 games. In his two at-bats during Thursday’s Division 6 semifinal against Heritage Christian, he grounded out to second and shortstop.

With the count at one ball and two strikes, Muro connected with a 84 MPH fastball from Heritage Christian’s Cullen Hirtensteiner and hit a double into the alley in right-center field, scoring Adan Castro (who reached base due to catcher’s interference) with the eventual winning run as the host Eagles secured a thrilling victory.

This was a closely contested game that was not for the faint of heart. Marshall took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Nate Callaway that scored Caleb Thatcher.

Heritage Christian’s Eden Nalin tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third with a sacrifice fly that scored Nicholas Boldt. The Eagles responded immediately in the bottom of the third when Trevor Lain singled to right field, which scored Caleb Thatcher for a 2-1 lead.

Christian Boldt tied the game at 2-2 when he turned on a fastball from relief pitcher Nate Callaway and hit a solo home run over the short porch in right field during the fifth inning. Thatcher returned the favor in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run that gave Marshall a 3-2 lead.

Heritage Christian refused to quit, and it was Christian Boldt who once again provided the spark with a single that scored his brother Christian, tying the game at 3-3. This led to Muro’s dramatic hit in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Marshall threw everything at the Warriors, with Michael Gerst striking out six batters with a fastball that ranged between 83-85 MPH. Nate Callaway entered in the top of the fourth inning and fanned three hitters while consistently delivering a fastball clocked at 84-86. Thatcher, who went 2 for 2 at the plate and scored three times, came in for relief in the last inning and pitched much faster than he did on Friday against Santa Fe, reaching 89 MPH on his fastball.

Marshall will take on Estancia in the Division 6 final on Saturday, either CS Fullerton or Long Beach State.

The final out as Marshall defeated Heritage Christian, 4-3.

Marshall’s Ben Muro hit a double that drove in Adan Castro with the eventual winning run.

DIVISION 3

San Dimas 4, Beckman 1: The Saints scored two runs in the second and seventh innings, backed by an outstanding pitching performance from freshman Dean Brosterhouse, propelling them to a sectional final with a road win over the Patriots. Brosterhouse allowed one run on three hits and struck out four in 5.1 innings of work to earn the victory. The Saints scored in the second inning on RBI singles by Jayden Medina and Jason Almeida. With the score at 2-1 in the seventh, Josh Calcanas hit a double that scored Aaden Escarcega, and Calcanas came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Michael Melodia. James Rocha came in relief and threw 1.2 innings to pick up the save.

San Dimas will take on….

Glendora 7, Temecula Valley 5: Daniel Conness was the hero of the day as his single in the bottom of the sixth inning scored the two runs that proved necessary for the Tartans to secure the win. Mason Dansion was the offensive standout for Glendora, going 2 for 2 and scoring twice. Aaron Jacobson, a Westmont College commit, connected on a single that scored a run, giving Glendora an early 4-1 lead. Brayden Johnson struck out five in four innings of work, but it was Sebastian Lawrence who came through from the bullpen, tossing three shutout innings, allowing one hit, and striking out two to earn the win.

Glendora will take on San Dimas in the Division 3 final on Saturday.

DIVISION 9

Mountain View 2, Coastal Christian 0: Adam Alcantar will be the toast of the town in El Monte tonight as he tossed a complete-game five-hitter and struck out four to lead the Vikings to a sectional final. Julian Palma-Saracho hit a single that drove in the first run for Mountain View in the fourth inning. The Vikings added another run in the sixth inning.

Mountain View will take on Nuview Bridge in the Division 9 final on Saturday.