Harbor Beats Golden West to Earn Spot in JC Finals

Top-ranked Harbor College displayed solid hitting and tight defense Saturday in a 9-4 victory over eighth-seeded Golden West College in the semifinals of the Southern California regional junior college tournament.

The Seahawks earned a spot in today’s 11 a.m. final at Cerritos College, where they will play Golden West again, which defeated San Bernardino, 7-3, to win the loser’s bracket in the double-elimination tournament. The winner will go to the state tournament at UC Irvine May 25-27.

Coach Jim O’Brien, who has led Harbor to 11 league titles and two state championships in 15 years, is confident that this team can go all the way.

“We don’t care who we play now,” he said. “We feel we can beat anybody.”

The Seahawks swept Miracosta College in last week’s first round, and Friday they pulled out a 7-4 victory over 14th-seeded Rio Hondo in 12 innings.

Golden West Coach Roberto Villarreal said he hasn’t seen a better team this year.

“They have a great club over there.” he said. “They’re always tough. There’s a reason why they’re 47-5, and there’s a reason why they’re No. 1.”

With the loss, Golden West fell to 27-13.

Sophomore right-hander Pat Ahearne (12-1) went the distance for the Seahawks, giving up five hits and four runs.

Harbor, which never trailed in the game, scored five runs in the top of the second inning. George Baker singled, and Robert Lewis and Tony Liebsack worked Rustler pitcher Jason Hutchins (6-3) for walks. Jonathon Lopez singled in Baker, Mike Murphy singled in Lewis and Marvin Bernard’s ground out drove in Liebsack. Then Matt Nuez’s single to center scored Lopez and Murphy.

Golden West came back in the bottom of the second on a three-run homer by Josh Bammer.

But Harbor scored two more runs in the fourth inning for a 7-3 lead. A ground out by Ryan Karp drove in Murphy, and Baker’s sacrifice fly scored Bernard.

Lopez, who went 4 for 5, scored on a fielder’s choice in the fifth, and Bernard’s single drove in Mike Berry in the top of the seventh.