Mira Costa Plays Its Ace in 4-A Matchup Against Torrance

Jason Garner, Mira Costa High’s pitching ace, has always had a strong right arm.

Now maybe all he needs are a blindfold and a cigarette.

Garner will have the unenviable task of staring down at Torrance’s “Murderer’s Row” today. Mira Costa and Torrance, two of the South Bay’s best teams, meet in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A Division baseball playoffs in a 3 p.m. game at Torrance Park.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that Jason will pitch a fine game and keep us in the ballgame,” Mira Costa Coach Jim Beaumont said. “We’ve got to keep their bats quiet and do some hitting for ourselves.”

That task is complicated by the quality of the hitters in the heart of the Torrance batting order, which includes the fearsome threesome of Antone Williamson (.563), Eric Gonzalez (.441) and Jason Kendall (.482).

But if anyone can keep that trio off balance, it might be Garner (6-4, 1.59 earned-run average), who has anchored Mira Costa’s pitching staff for four years and is among the South Bay’s leaders in strikeouts with 90.

Torrance (20-5) beat Mira Costa, 5-2, in a nonleague game on April 2. But the Tartars didn’t face Garner in that game.

“Starting now, everybody is 0-0,” Torrance Coach Jeff Phillips said. “And everybody wants to go 5-0. We respect Mira Costa. But we’re not going to wait for things to happen, we’re going to dictate the ballgame.”

Torrance will start left-hander Kris Radcliffe (8-2), and will back him with an improved defense.

In two crucial league games last week against West, Torrance committed no errors. Junior shortstop Ryan Shannon has played a major role in shoring up the Tartar defense.

“This is no Einsteinian theory,” Phillips said. “We need to put pressure on them offensively, and play well on defense.”

A big key for Mira Costa (12-12) may be how its top hitters--Garner (.403) and first baseman Andy Owens (.463)--fare against Radcliffe.

“It seems we’ve been stuck on two or three runs a game,” Beaumont said. “We need to make sure this isn’t a one-run game.”

Following is a rundown of other first-round games involving South Bay teams. All games are at 3 p.m. today, unless noted:

5-A DIVISION

St. Bernard (14-8-1) at Lakewood (21-5)--Taking the leap from the 2-A to the 5-A Division may make St. Bernard’s playoff journey a short one. The Vikings, who have reached at least the quarterfinals in five previous seasons under Coach Bob Yarnall, will have to defeat left-hander David Reeser (8-3, 1.75 ERA, 56 strikeouts), who has a 28-5 record in his three years at Lakewood. Reeser (.343) is also one of the Lancers’ top hitters, along with shortstop Richard Alvarez (.355) and right fielder A. J. Marinelli (.338).

St. Bernard boasts one of the division’s finest middle infields in second baseman Sean Dunbar (.367, six home runs) and shortstop Grant Hohman (.315, three home runs). First baseman Phil Ruhl (.423, seven home runs, 24 RBIs) is the Vikings’ top hitter and right-hander Andy Diver (5-3, 2.45 ERA) is the No. 1 pitcher.

Hawthorne (13-9) at El Dorado of Placentia (19-6)--El Dorado is the only team which has beaten Esperanza, the nation’s top-ranked team by USA Today--and the Hawks did it twice in Empire League play. That could spell trouble for Hawthorne, whose pitchers have been erratic.

El Dorado is led by first baseman-pitcher Travis DowDell, a right-hander who has an 8-1 record, 1.90 ERA and a .397 batting average with five home runs and 25 RBIs. Hawthorne counters with a strong hitting lineup headed by Alex Figueroa (.440, four home runs, 26 RBIs).

4-A DIVISION

West Torrance (17-9) at Arroyo Grande (13-8)--West, led by right-handed ace Brian Fitzgerald (9-4, 1.44), lost its last two league games, but so did Arroyo Grande, which finished second in the Northern League. Center fielder Martin Macias (.448), Fitzgerald (.373) and shortstop Dane Cowing (.347) are the Warriors’ best hitters.

Arroyo Grande counters with leadoff man Andy Collett (.377), center fielder Robert Berns (.383, four home runs) and right-handed pitcher Shannon Stephens (.354). Stephens (6-3, 1.79) will likely start on the mound for Arroyo Grande.

El Toro (15-11) at Rolling Hills (15-6-1)--Rolling Hills’ playoff fortunes appear to hinge on the right arm of Kirt Kishita (8-2, 0.68), who led the Titans to the Ocean League title and has not given up an earned run since March 8, a string of 55 consecutive innings. Offensively, the Titans rely on outfielder-first baseman Stefan Wahlstrom (.451, six home runs, 19 RBIs) and Bill DeMucci (.436, 18 RBIs).

El Toro is expected to start one of two right-handers--senior Rob Johnson or sophomore Chris VerWayne (8-2, 2.02). Johnson certainly knows what it’s like to play in a big game. An All-CIF quarterback who has a football scholarship to USC, the 6-foot-4 Johnson pitched in the CIF 3-A title game as a freshman. El Toro catcher Chad Hoelker has signed with Miami.

3-A DIVISION

Garden Grove (12-9) vs. El Segundo (24-4) at Recreation Park, El Segundo--For the first time in 32 seasons, El Segundo enters the playoffs without Coach John Stevenson, who is recuperating after undergoing triple coronary bypass surgery Monday. Despite the setback, the No. 2-seeded Eagles appear to have a good chance of reaching a divisional title game for the third consecutive season.

El Segundo’s powerful lineup is led by catcher Jeff Poor (.500, 11 home runs, school-record 53 RBIs), shortstop Brett Newell (.447, 14 doubles, 27 RBIs) and outfielder Chris Feeny (.402, 25 RBIs). Interim coach Craig Cousins, an assistant for 17 years, says the Eagles have to play more consistently on defense to have success in the playoffs.

Garden Grove boasts the leading hitter in Orange County in Joe Aguirre, who has a .545 average and six triples.

2-A DIVISION

Miraleste (11-11) at Atascadero (17-6), Tuesday--Miraleste is led by shortstop-pitcher Mike Ryan, a four-year varsity starter. Ryan (2-2, 2.63) leads the team in hitting and RBIs, and second baseman Paul Lemire and catcher Jason Brown are also threats with the bat. Joe Carey (4-4, 2.03) is the top Marauder pitcher.

Atascadero has plenty of pitching with left-hander Bryan Husband (5-2), who threw 24 consecutive scoreless innings this season, and right-hander Chuck Peysar (6-1).

St. Anthony (10-9) vs. Mary Star (13-11) at Fromhold Field, San Pedro--Mary Star needs to win this wild-card game to advance to Tuesday’s first round. The Stars have two key players back from injuries--pitcher-infielder Mark Ponce de Leon (5-2, 2.57; .564) and third baseman Brynne Orlaski (.360).

St. Anthony, one of four teams that tied for second place in the Camino Real League, is led by pitcher Dan Williams (6-6), third baseman Dan Gutierrez (.462) and designated hitter Joe McPike (.476, 22 RBIs).

SMALL SCHOOLS DIVISION

Liberty Christian (15-7) at Chadwick (13-4)--The hitting is superb. The pitching is solid. But the defense is shaky. That’s the assessment of Chadwick by Coach Jim Drennen, who feels this is the best Dolphin team since 1987, the year it reached the Small Schools title game. Catcher Todd Seneker (.585, six home runs), center fielder Mark Bailey (.500) and shortstop Chris Gordon (.492, six home runs) carry the big bats in Chadwick’s lineup.

Lanky right-hander Mac McKinney (8-1, 2.14) gives the Dolphins a strong No. 1 pitcher. If Chadwick can overcome its defensive lapses, Drennen believes it can play with any team in the division. Liberty Christian, third-place team from the Academy League, earned a playoff berth with a 19-14 wild-card victory Tuesday over Calvary Baptist.

Staff writer Rob Fernas contributed to this story.