DIVISION II BASEBALL : Canyon’s Poise Grinds Down Brea-Olinda

Greg Jacobs was in a jam, so the Canyon pitcher bowed his head, said a prayer and returned to work.

From then on, Brea-Olinda had all the problems.

Jacobs, a junior left-hander, pitched out of trouble in the fourth inning, providing a boost that helped the Comanches to a 5-2 victory over the Wildcats in the second round of the Southern Section Division II baseball playoffs Tuesday at Brea-Olinda.

Century League-champion Canyon (22-5) plays Temecula Valley in the quarterfinals Friday. Brea-Olinda, co-champion of the Orange League, finished its season 22-5.

Had it not been for Jacobs’ mental fortitude in the fourth, Canyon might not be the team continuing.

Brea-Olinda catcher Mike Brambilla led off the inning with a double. Matt Weyant then dropped a prefect bunt along the third-base line that Jacobs fielded cleanly but made a wild throw to first that enabled Brambilla to score. Weyant went to third before Comanche right fielder Darren Chandler could retrieve the ball and return it to the infield.

Jacobs was visibly flustered, but he refused to fold.

“I knew I had to bear down,” Jacobs said. “I asked the Lord to just help me get the batters out. I knew I had to.”

He struck out the next three batters, stranding Weyant at third. Sometimes positive thinking really does help.

“That was big,” Canyon Coach Mike Najera said. “You can’t give a team like Brea too many runs. We needed that.”

The Comanches, who produce runs at a dizzying pace, rewarded their tough teammate by scoring four runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning. Canyon added one more in the seventh.

Jacobs (7-0) pitched into the sixth inning, allowing one run on five hits and striking out seven. He was relieved by Scott Redfox, who held the Wildcats in check until Brambilla hit his eighth homer of the year in the bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore left-hander Bryan Robinson (8-2) took the loss, giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings. Robinson was working on a one-hitter until the sixth.

Brambilla was the game’s star on offense, going three for three with two runs scored and a home run. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Brambilla did not receive much support.

“Their pitching silenced our bats,” Brea-Olinda Coach Steve Hiskey said. “We just didn’t put enough balls in play.”

In other Division II games:

Moreno Valley Valley View 8, Valencia 6 (8)--Joe Secoda had two hits and drove in Ben Esque with the tying run with two out in the bottom of the seventh for Valencia (13-13). Art Francis had two doubles and two RBIs for the Tigers. Valley View is 21-4.

Riverside North 7, Fullerton 6--Riverside North (15-11) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh for the victory. Greg Freeman had four hits, including two triples, two RBI and two runs scored for visiting Fullerton (21-6).