SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A Wild Card : Nine Walks Finish Off Los Alamitos : St. John Bosco Gets Five Runs in Sixth With Only One Hit

Los Alamitos High School, with seven underclassmen in the starting lineup, made a quick exit from the Southern Section 4-A division baseball playoffs Wednesday.

St. John Bosco took advantage of nine walks and two errors to gain a 9-1 victory in a wild-card game in Los Alamitos.

St. John Bosco (18-7) moves into the first round of the playoffs Friday at Colton. Los Alamitos ended the season at 10-14-1.

The Braves had only four hits, but seven scored after walking or reaching on an error. That was more than enough for winning pitcher Tom Martinez (10-4), who allowed only three hits.

“Some people will look at the score and say we shouldn’t have been in the playoffs, and maybe we shouldn’t have,” said Mike Gibson, Los Alamitos coach. “We’ve had a problem all season with walks and our defense.”

St. John Bosco shortstop Cary Windes provided all the runs that Martinez needed in his first at-bats. Windes, who has signed with Fresno State, hit a long home run over the right-center-field fence in the first inning and added a two-run single in the third.

Los Alamitos scored in the second inning on left fielder Mike Scott’s home run and managed only singles by Brett Pagett and Scott the remainder of the game.

“Tom Martinez was in command,” said Ed Riley, St. John Bosco coach. “He’s thrown harder this season, but he only walked two batters and we played good defense behind him.”

The Braves put the game out of reach in the sixth inning. Griffin starter Rob Nen (2-5) had struck out eight in four innings and appeared to be breezing when he opened the fifth by walking three batters and was replaced by Mike Kelly.

Kelly walked the first batter he faced to force in a run, allowed another run on a sacrifice fly and then gave up two more runs on a triple by Bob Jakubik. Jakubik’s triple was the only hit of the inning, but before the side was retired, the Braves had five runs and an 8-1 lead.

“Rob had kept the ball low for five innings and then he lost his control,” Gibson said. “He hadn’t gone that far in a while and it showed.”

Martinez was in complete control. The right-hander allowed more than one baserunner in only in the fifth inning, but the Griffins’ best scoring opportunity ended when designated hitter Tony Fusco took a called third strike.

While Los Alamitos’ inexperience showed, St. John Bosco’s playoff experience was evident. The Braves didn’t commit an error and executed some nifty plays in the infield.

“We’re solid up the middle with our shortstop, second baseman and center fielder competing in their third playoffs,” said Riley, whose team finished third in the Del Rey League. “We made it to the semifinals when those three were sophomores and won the league with them last year.