Serna, Ortega Combine to Stop San Pedro

Frank Serna pitched six innings of three-hit ball and Vince Ortega shut down host San Pedro High in the seventh as San Fernando advanced to the City Section 4-A Division semifinals on Friday with a 4-3 victory.

Ortega registered his fourth save of the season as the Tigers snapped San Pedro’s 10-game winning streak.

“It was kind of tight, but we didn’t play that well,” Tigers Coach Steve Marden said. “This was a good battling team.”

San Fernando (13-6) scored the eventual game-winning run in the sixth when Robert Chavez singled home Bobby Corrales.

Serna (4-1) allowed a run in the first when he balked home Art Castenada, but San Fernando took the lead in the third on the strength of Josh Bergara’s two-run double.

San Pedro’s Rodney Garcia led off the fourth with an inside the park home run to tie the score, but the Tigers reclaimed the lead in the fifth.

San Pedro pitcher Eric Boyson hit Rudy Sanchez to lead off the inning. Pinch-runner Brent Huff stole second, went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on first baseman Castenada’s throwing error.

The Pirates (20-6), co-champions of the Marine League, added a run in the sixth to complete the scoring.

Serna, who missed the first half of the season because of academic ineligibilty, said he is getting stronger with each outing.

“I know I have the defense to back me up,” said Serna, who struck out one and walked three. “I’m not a strikeout pitcher, so I wait for the defense to help me.”

San Fernando will play Chatsworth on Tuesday at a site to be determined.