Baseball: Zavala’s 410-foot home run lifts Bishop Amat
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
Bernardo Zavala hit a 410-foot two-run home run to center field in the fourth inning, and relief pitcher Ryan Serrato threw 4 2/3 innings of shutout ball to lift La Puente Bishop Amat past Lakeside El Capitan, 2-1, in a semifinal game of the Hard 9 National Classic at Cal State Fullerton.
Serrato struck out two batters with the tying run at third base in the sixth. Bishop Amat (19-2) won its 19th consecutive game and earned a spot in Thursday’s 7 p.m. final against Anaheim Esperanza, which defeated Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Pendleton Academy, 9-2. Esperanza owns one of the two victories against Bishop Amat.
Bishop Amat handed a rare defeat to El Capitan junior pitcher Troy Conyers, a Stanford commit who struck out seven.
In a consolation game, Mission Hills Alemany defeated Cypress, 3-2. Corey Sims hit a three-run home run. Peter Van Gansen picked up his seventh save for the Warriors (15-8). Chatsworth defeated San Jose Valley Christian, 11-8. Ricky Obando hit a grand slam. Chatsworth will play Alemany at 4:30 p.m. at Fullerton on Thursday for the consolation title.
West Hills Chaminade defeated Clovis West, 7-4. Michael Dingilian threw a complete game. Tanner Reibenspies went three for three with three RBIs.
-- Eric Sondheimer