Pitchers help lift Encino Crespi over Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 2-1

FOR THE RECORD: Crespi reliever Sean Gilmartin has 19 career saves, not 18 as the story previously reported. The correction has been made in the following copy.

Two senior pitchers who have been close to unbeatable the last two seasons for Encino Crespi came through with clutch performances Tuesday night in the Celts' 2-1 victory over top-ranked Sherman Oaks Notre Dame in front of more than 600 at Birmingham High.

Right-hander Tyler Johnson (9-0) raised his career record to 19-0 by giving up only three hits in six innings, striking out seven and walking none.

He turned over the ball to left-hander Sean Gilmartin, who earned his ninth save of the season and school-record 19th in his career, enabling third-ranked Crespi (21-5, 10-1) to pull into a first-place tie with Notre Dame (22-3, 10-1) in the Mission League with one game to play.

"It was definitely an intense atmosphere," Notre Dame outfielder Kelly Dugan said.

Notre Dame left-hander Nik Rodarte (8-1) pitched well, limiting the Celts to six hits, but four of them came in the first inning, resulting in two runs, with Jeremy Rodriguez and Zack Wiley contributing RBI singles.

Those were all the runs Johnson would need. He was focused, precise and never let the Knights have a chance to hurt him, other than giving up an unearned run in the second inning.

"I knew who I had to beat tonight and threw one of my best games of the season," Johnson said.

Added Crespi Coach Scott Muckey: "We were very concerned about their top three hitters being left-handed, but he got them out."

It was vintage Crespi pitching straight out of the Muckey playbook. He has been Crespi's coach since 1987, and he is known as a pitching guru because of his ability to teach his pitchers to throw strikes while pitching to spots.

Johnson, who has signed with Stony Brook University, had an outstanding slider all night. Notre Dame's first four batters were a combined one for 12 with six strikeouts. And they weren't just any ordinary hitters.

Dugan came in hitting .438. Trevor Gee has signed with Loyola Marymount. Rodarte leads the team with 23 runs batted in, and Nick LaFace came in with four home runs.

Notre Dame thought it could come through with another seventh-inning rally, something the Knights did last week in two extra-inning victories over Chaminade. Unfortunately for the Knights, Gilmartin doesn't blow save opportunities. He retired the three Notre Dame batters in order.

"You have to figure he's not going to do it every time, but holy smokes," Muckey said of the Florida State-bound Gilmartin.

The teams will play each other again Thursday at 3:45 p.m. at Valley College to decide the league title and a likely high seeding for the Southern Section-Toyota Division III playoffs.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com