Martineau Leads Rancho Santiago to Victory
Brian Martineau, with ninth-inning help from Kirk Irvine, turned in his best pitching performance of the season as Rancho Santiago beat host Los Angeles Harbor, 2-0, in a Southern California playoff game Friday.
Martineau (5-3) gave up no runs and eight singles in eight-plus innings. He struck out seven and walked one. Martineau, a freshman right-hander from Riverside Arlington High School, gave up a leadoff single in the ninth and was replaced by Irvine, who got a force out and then a double-play to end the game. It was his second save.
Mark Chavez of L.A. Harbor beat Rancho Santiago, 3-1, this season but gave up two runs in 8 2/3 innings to take the loss Friday. He is 9-2.
“Martineau is pitching as well as anybody in the state right now,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said. “Their guy threw well but our guy was just better.”
Rancho Santiago (36-10) advances to play Riverside at 11 a.m. today in the winners’ bracket at Harbor. Riverside beat Citrus, 8-6, Friday. The Tigers won three of four games against Rancho Santiago, the defending State champion, in Orange Empire Conference play earlier this season. Brandon Hoalton (11-2) is scheduled to start for Rancho Santiago.
It was the third time in four seasons L.A. Harbor (31-13) has played host to a regional and lost in the first round. The Seahawks play Citrus at 10 a.m. at El Camino. The loser is eliminated.
Rancho Santiago was limited to six hits Friday, but two made the difference.
Jason Minici hit the second pitch of the sixth inning well over the left-field fence to put Rancho Santiago ahead, 2-0. It was his ninth home run. Minici, who also had a single, was the only Don with two hits.
The other run was scored in the first. With two outs, Toby Sanchez and Darren Troilo walked. Chavez got ahead of Daryle Ward, no balls and two strikes, but Ward lined a high fastball into left field for an RBI single.
Martineau dominated early, getting his seven strikeouts in the first five innings.
L.A. Harbor’s best chance to score came in the eighth, when the Seahawks had two on and one out. But Martineau got out of the inning with the help of a pick off.
Rancho Santiago’s second baseman Joe Fraser moved in behind Josh Bendik and Martineau threw to second well ahead of Bendik for the second out.
Martineau got designated-hitter Anthony Mack to ground into a force play to end the eighth.
“It was the first time we’ve picked (at second) all year,” Martineau said. “I just looked at Joe and he nodded and then I nodded and he got in behind.”