GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Moreno Gives Garden Grove a Playoff Berth

Ronnie Moreno pitched a one-hit shutout Thursday as host Garden Grove beat Bolsa Grande, 4-0, to clinch a berth in the Southern Section Division III baseball playoffs.

Moreno (7-4) struck out five and walked two, and retired 14 of the last 15 batters he faced. The only hit he gave up was an infield single by catcher Dan Hendrix with one out in the third inning.

“All my pitches were working today,” Moreno said. “I got ahead of most of the batters, which made it easier. I don’t throw that hard, so I had to change speeds.”

Argonaut Coach Jim Rawls said he didn’t expect his team to make the playoffs.

“This is really a plus,” he said. “We’ve only got three seniors, and four sophomores. (But) it was Moreno’s best outing, and his second-best was the last time we played them (a 3-2 Garden Grove victory).”

Garden Grove (15-9, 9-5) scored the only run it needed in the bottom of the first on third baseman Kevin Loken’s home run.

Bolsa Grande starter Brian Moore (7-4) was nearly as impressive as Moreno. The senior pitched a three-hitter, allowed two earned runs and at one point retired 12 batters in a row.

But Moore, trailing, 1-0, had control problems in the sixth. He hit Moreno in the leg to start the inning, and after a sacrifice bunt, walked Mike Campuzano. A wild pitch allowed pinch-runner Brian Jones to score. Then Moore intentionally walked Loken.

First baseman Adam Bass responded with an RBI single, and Loken scored on a throwing error by first baseman Alex Navarro, giving Garden Grove a 4-0 lead.

Bolsa Grande finished the season 11-12, 7-7.