Baseball: Mater Dei reveals strategy for Hobgood, but it backfires

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With a runner on first and one out in the first inning of its Southern Section Division I quarterfinal playoff game, Santa Ana Mater Dei showed what it’s strategy will be for dealing with Norco’s Matt Hobgood, who has hit 21 home runs. Coach Burt Call ordered an intentional walk.

It’s clear the Monarchs are not going to let Hobgood beat them with a home run. But Norco’s No. 5 batter, Jake Clark, belted a three-run home run over the fence in center field off Aaron Northcraft, giving the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

And that’s great news for Hobgood, who takes the mound with an 11-0 record and having allowed only three earned runs all season.

-- Eric Sondheimer