SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : 3-A DIVISION : Collision at First, Bases-Loaded Walk Spoil Tustin’s Day

ANAHEIM — A collision at first base prompted an intentional walk that loaded the bases and ultimately caused Tustin High School’s downfall in the Southern Section 3-A championship game Saturday.

Tustin pitcher Dan Baker followed the intentional pass in the bottom of the seventh inning by walking Glen Huggins to force in the winning run and La Serna won the title, 1-0, in Anaheim Stadium.

La Serna (28-5) got only three hits off Baker and hit just six balls out of the infield, but the Lancers got the biggest break of the game when their second baseman, Pete Garcia, collided with Tustin second baseman Jim Reider at first.

The Tillers were attempting to complete a double play when Baker fielded Garcia’s bunt with runners on first and second and nobody out. Baker got the force play at third, and third baseman Ben Strack threw to first, attempting to double-up Garcia.

But Strack’s throw sailed into foul territory when Garcia crashed into Reider, who was covering the base, putting runners at first and third with one out. Tustin Coach Vince Brown didn’t hesitate in ordering Baker to load the bases.

“Danny had walked only 30 batters in 91 innings, so we felt very comfortable with the move (intentional walk) in that situation,” Brown said. “We had to play for a force play (at any base). It was automatic.”

At least Brown thought so. Baker (14-2) went to the stretch and threw three high fastballs to Huggins before finally getting a strike. Baker’s fifth pitch, a low outside fastball, was a ball, marking the end of a fine pitching duel between Baker and Willie Adams.

Afterward, Baker said he never doubted his team would survive the inning and send the game into extra innings.

“Even with the bases loaded, I thought we still had them,” Baker said. “My fastball had pop, and I felt sure we’d come through.”

La Serna Coach Vern Hodge was also feeling confident.

“I knew we were in good shape,” he said. “This is the type of game we’ve won all season.”

Tustin wasted scoring opportunities in the second and third innings against Adams (10-2), who got stronger as the game progressed.

Tustin had runners on second and third with one out in the second inning, but Reider failed to execute a squeeze bunt on a head-high fastball and teammate Ryan Relph was run down between third and home plate. Reider subsequently struck out to end the inning.

Right fielder Shawn Green hit a two-out double off the right-field fence in the third inning but was stranded when Ben Munoz flied to center.

Afterward, Brown defended his strategy, saying his team’s style of play all season has been to put the pressure on an opponent.

“I figured this would be a pitcher’s game . . . a very close game,” Brown said. “We kept trying for seven innings to make something happen, and then they finally did.

Brown said “there was no arguing” over the collision in the seventh inning.

“The (first base) umpire told me the runner had the right to all 17 inches of the bag on that play at first.”

Reider said he arrived at first “a little late” and straddled the bag awaiting Strack’s throw.

“I was watching the ball and the next thing I knew, I got tagged,” he said. “The throw was right there. It would have been a close play. But I’ve been in that situation before, and the umpire usually makes the same call.”