Holcomb’s Arm and Bat Lead El Dorado

Shawn Holcomb’s hitting and pitching was the difference as El Dorado defeated Simi Valley Royal, 6-3, in a Southern Section Division 5-A baseball playoff game Tuesday at El Dorado.

After John Street doubled in the third inning, Holcomb hit a two-run homer to give the Golden Hawks a 4-3 lead.

Holcomb pitched the final three innings for the save. He allowed three hits and struck out five, including the side in the seventh for El Dorado (22-5), the Empire League champion.

Holcomb pitched a complete game as El Dorado beat Redlands, 4-1, Friday in the first round.

El Dorado will play Mater Dei in the quarterfinals Friday at a site to be determined. Mater Dei beat Riverside Poly, 14-0, Tuesday.

“When you’re in the playoffs,” El Dorado Coach Steve Gullotti said, “you have to set aside your pitching rotation because you hate to worry about your next game when you could lose the one you’re playing.

“Shawn is the best pitcher on our team and he did what he was expected to do, throw strikes and get his curveball over the plate.”

El Dorado added two runs in the sixth inning to take a 6-3 lead. With one out, Aaron Tom doubled and was replaced by pinch-runner Spencer Frost. Chris Remala doubled to score Frost. Remala went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

Royal ends the season, 18-8.