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San Juan Hills Baseball maintains lead in league
The seemingly impregnable wall built by the San Juan Hills baseball pitching staff is finally crumbling, while the Stallions continue to maintain their lead in the increasingly tense Seaview League.
After winning 11 straight games, including nine shutouts, San Juan Hills (15-5, 5-2) has lost four of its past six games and two of its past three league games, including at home. Including a 4-2 loss to Aliso. Niguel on Wednesday, April 10th.
San Juan Hills maintains a one-game lead over both Aliso Niguel (13-7, 4-3) and San Clemente (11-10, 4-3) in the Seaview League standings. . San Juan Hills is ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 4 and Aliso Niguel is ranked No. 8 in CIF-SS Division 2.
The Stallions suffered their first loss on March 27th at home against San Clemente in a 4-2 overtime decision. San Juan Hills tied the score and almost took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning before the Tritons hit two runs. He won with a home run in the 10th inning of overtime.
On March 29, San Juan Hills made a dramatic performance late in an away game against San Clemente to turn the game around. In the seventh inning, with the score tied 2-2, Zach Doyle hit a leadoff double, then scored on a wild pitch to take the lead. Two batters later, Jake Vuoso also scored on a wild pitch, and the Stallions held on for a 4-2 victory.
During spring break, San Juan Hills lost two of three games at the Ryan Lemon Tournament at Great Park in Irvine, but won the final game, the Corona Centennial game, 8-3. The Stallions scored all eight points in the third inning, including Doyle's home run with the bases loaded.
San Juan Hills returns from vacation to host Aliso Niguel on Wednesday. The Wolverines took a 2-0 lead in the third inning and never relinquished the advantage, winning 4-2.
The Stallions will look to win the season series and stay in first place as they split a two-game set against Aliso Niguel on Friday, April 12 at 3:45 p.m. San Juan Hills is in last place El Toro will play a two-game set with the first game at home on Wednesday, April 17th and the second game at El Toro on Friday, April 19th.
Jaysera Baseball stays in league title contention with big comeback
The defending CIF-SS Division 1 champions aren't going back without a fight.
J.Serra Baseball (12-7, 5-3) continues to hold the coveted top-three automatic playoff spot from the Trinity League after splitting the first two of three games. They are one game behind league leader Orange Lutheran. Set against 2nd place Santa Margarita (14 wins, 6 losses, 5 wins, 3 losses).
After Santa Margarita shutout Jay Serra on the Lions' diamond on Tuesday, April 9, Jay Serra was 8-1 going into the top of the fifth inning on Wednesday, April 10 at Santa Margarita. They were leading by 7 points. But the Lions showed a big spark. “Small ball,” he said, and sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth inning.
Jaysela loaded the bases with no outs on Ryder Fredriksen's single, Dmitri Susidko was hit by a pitch, and Cole Strain walked. Charlie Caruso's bases loaded walk scored Fredricksen, and J.Serra's comeback began.
Sushidko scored on a one-out single by Jordan Marian, and Strain scored on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Dunning. Caruso reversed and scored on Gavin Flores' two-out single. A walk by Marcus Grice loaded the bases again, and Fredriksen got back on track with a two-run double from pinch runner Noah Meza and Andrew Padova, reducing the Lions' lead to just one point.
Sushidoko then drove in two runs, Grice and Fredriksen scored, and J Serra's seventh and eighth runs of the inning gave them a 9-8 lead.
Jessera extended the lead to three runs on Marian's two-run home run in the sixth inning, but the game wasn't over yet and Santa Margarita responded with three runs to tie the game in the seventh inning.
In the seventh inning, Sushidoko scored on a double by Blake Bowen to put Jaysela ahead, and a two-run double by Dunning scored Caruso and Bowen to give the Lions another three-run lead.
Santa Margarita scored one point in the bottom of the frame, but Jessera persevered and won a dramatic 14-12 come-from-behind victory. The Lions scored 13 runs in the final three innings to seal the victory.
J.Serra will host Santa Margarita on Friday, April 12th at 4 p.m., with the winner retaining second place in the Trinity League.
The Lions will host two of three games next week against No. 4 St. John Bosco (14-5, 4-4), with games at J.Serra on Tuesday, April 16th and Friday, April 19th. conduct.
St. Margaret's men's lacrosse team maintains No. 1 spot
With no league to play in, the St. Margaret's College men's lacrosse team faces a tough schedule to qualify for the CIF-SS playoffs. Although the Tartans' hectic schedule continues to grow, St. Margaret's is proving once again that it is one of the elite programs in the sport.
St. Margaret's went on a 6-0 run in the first half to earn a 9-4 road victory over reigning CIF-SS Division 1 champion Foothill on Tuesday, April 9th.
Austin Hicks, who signed with Duke University, scored two goals for the Tartans. Johnny Ibarone scored two goals for the Tartans, and Bryant University signee Connor McKenna added a goal and an assist. St Margaret's goalkeeper Eben O'Brien made seven saves.
It was St. Margaret's first win against Foothill since the 2019 National Lacrosse Orange County Championship. The Knights have defeated the Tartans in the past two playoffs.
St. Margaret's has remained No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 1 voting all season. The Tartans have not appeared in a championship game since the sport came under CIF-SS control in 2021.
Foothill is ranked No. 4 in the CIF-SS poll and St. Margaret's is scheduled for a home game against No. 3 Mater Dei on Saturday, April 13th at 7 p.m. The Tartans are ranked No. 2 on Tuesday, April 13th Scheduled to play against No. 1 Loyola on the 16th at 6 p.m.
The St. Margarets will host No. 8 Corona del Mar next Friday, April 19, and No. 6 Westlake on April 26 at 5 p.m.
This season, the Tartans also have wins over No. 5 Santa Margarita and No. 9 Los Alamitos.
