Peninsula Baseball Team Travels to Bishop Amat

The Peninsula High baseball team will try to move closer to a Southern Section title today when it travels to Bishop Amat for a quarterfinal 5-A Division playoff game at 3:15 p.m.

Peninsula (20-7) defeated Moore League champion Lakewood, 6-2, Tuesday. Bishop Amat (21-5), which finished a game behind first place Mater Dei in the Angelus League, advanced by beating Cypress, 5-4.

“(Bishop Amat) hits the ball well,” Peninsula co-coach Garry Poe said. “They are very aggressive at the plate. They are just a good solid ballclub with no glaring weaknesses.”

The Panthers have been at the top of their game in the playoffs. In their opener against Katella, Peninsula took a 2-0 first-inning lead on senior designated hitter Jason Brown’s eighth homer.

Against Lakewood, senior right fielder Mike Whiley hit a two-run homer.

Getting an early lead has been difficult for the Panthers, according to Poe.

“Early in the season we were inexperienced,” he said. “We would put (the offense) in neutral and just idle. We just lost our offensive intensity.

“(But) in the last two games, we’ve gotten out to early leads and the kids haven’t shut down.”

Shortstop Brian Hogenthogler is three for six with a home run and three runs batted in, second baseman Rich Radford is two for six with two RBIs and Whiley is two for five with four RBIs in the two playoff games.

“We’ve had some kids with some real good at-bats,” Poe said. “Everybody has played a role. We’ve had guys come in with some timely base hits and those things help.”

Poe, along with his co-coach Gil Eberhard, haven’t decided on who will pitch today. The Lancers’ offense has the Panthers worried.

“They can just hit the ball hard,” Poe said. “They are a quality group of kids and have a number of outstanding players.

The Panthers appear to have plenty of pitching possibilities.

Right-hander Steve Cooper (5-0, 1.60 earned-run average) has won both playoff games in relief. Other possible starters include Arin McCarthy (5-0, 2.50 ERA) and Brian Bowles (5-3, 3.04 ERA).

“We have a lot of arms and that’s just a luxury we have,” Poe said. “At the beginning of the season all of our pitchers were untested and untried. Now they are all battling.”

The Lancers are led by senior shortstop Gabe Alverez, who will attend USC in the fall. He is batting .450 with nine home runs and 37 RBIs.

In the victory over Cypress, Alverez hit a grand slam and solo homer to drive in five runs.

“He is really something,” Poe said. “He can definitely hit the ball.”

Bishop Amat first baseman Artie Baeza has three home runs in the past four games and 20 RBIs overall. Left fielder Ted Persell is batting .457 with 24 RBIs and second baseman Alfred Macias is batting .415 with four home runs.

The Lancers’ probable starting pitcher is Jesus Peinado, a junior right-hander who is 11-1. His loss came in relief against Mater Dei.

“We have to play good defense because we know we won’t keep them from hitting the ball,” Poe said. “Our offense has matured and we’re really happy to be where we are at right now. We are playing together and things are clicking.”

In a Southern Section Small Schools quarterfinal game, Chadwick (12-5) plays host to Bethel Christian of Riverside (22-3) today at 3:15 p.m.

The Dolphins, who are the second-seeded team from the Prep League, held off Providence, 2-1, in a second-round game Tuesday. The Kings, defeated Boys Republic, 10-6.

The Dolphins are led by Chris Gordon, who is batting .438 and Rory Laverity, who is hitting .400 with 20 RBIs. Chadwick’s best pitcher is Mac McKinnie, who is 8-1 with a 0.82 ERA.

The Kings are led by junior Daryle Ward, a center fielder who batted .662 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs.

Ricky Linares is batting .461 with 30 RBIs and Scott Morlan is batting .429, with 28 RBIs and 30 runs scored.

Travis Cocca is Bethel Christian’s top pitcher with a 7-2 record.