STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE BASEBALL : L.A. Harbor Beats Chabot, Gains Final

L.A. Harbor College held off a ninth-inning rally to defeat Chabot, 10-9, Sunday to advance to today’s championship of the state community college baseball tournament at UC Irvine.

Harbor led, 10-5, to start the ninth, when Chabot’s Corey Quinn led off with a double. He scored on a single by Brian Thompson. A single by Barney Dion chased Harbor starter Pat Ahearne, who was replaced by Chico Limas.

Aaron Ledesma lined a three-run home run off the scoreboard to cut the lead to 10-9. Limas got Chad Burns to fly out for the first out before being replaced by John Ingram, who got the game’s final two outs.

Chabot (43-11) also reached today’s championship game by defeating Santa Rosa, 18-6, later Sunday.

Chabot and Harbor meet again today at 11, with Chabot having to win twice for the title. A second game would follow, if necessary. Harbor (50-5) last won the state title in 1984.

The ninth-inning home run Sunday was the 10th consecutive time Ledesma had reached base safely in the tournament. His streak grew to 11 when he walked in his first at-bat against Santa Rosa (32-19), but he flied out in the third inning. Ledesma is nine for 12 with two home runs, three doubles, 10 runs scored and 10 RBIs in three tournament games.

Santa Rosa defeated Riverside, 11-5, earlier Sunday to eliminate the Tigers (32-17) from the tournament.