DIVISION III : La Quinta’s Livernois Cools Off St. John Bosco

Jim Livernois didn’t carry the world, a chip or the La Quinta High School baseball team on his shoulders Friday. Instead, he had fun.

The Aztecs defeated Bellflower St. John Bosco, 11-2, to reach the Southern Section Division III semifinals Tuesday against Corona.

But with Livernois, the sometimes-volatile, always-competitive senior pitcher, even the easy victories can fuel his fire.

Friday at La Quinta, however, he was almost tranquil. Livernois even had one bad inning, a customary flash point. But all he did was grin and bear it.

Livernois (13-3) went six innings, giving up four hits and two runs, for his 37th victory, second-best total in Orange County history.

Heck, he didn’t even mind being replaced by Steve Combs in the seventh.

“I handed Steve the ball and said, ‘Go get ‘em,’ ” said Livernois, who played center field the last inning. “He can do the job.”

This is the same guy who was angry about being pulled from a game after walking eight batters. The same guy who has fumed and fussed at times, even when things were going well. The same guy who dragged the the Aztecs to the Division III title game a year ago.

But that guy is relaxed now.

“I told him, with all his accomplishments, he should be enjoying himself out there,” Coach Dave Demarest said. “He enjoyed himself today.”

Livernois, The Times player of the year last season, was handed a 5-0 lead in the first inning and had a ball. He allowed Gerry Bueno’s leadoff single in the first, then retired the next 11 batters. Not one ball was hit out of the infield.

In the fifth, the Braves (20-7) twice loaded the bases. They scratched out two runs to pull within, 5-2. Livernois got Ryan Williams to pop out to end the inning, then pumped his fist as he ran off the field smiling.

“Yeah, I walked a couple guys or else they wouldn’t have scored any runs,” Livernois said. “It was fun out there.”

That La Quinta (26-3) scored five runs in the first certainly helped. The Aztecs’ first six batters reached base before Braves center fielder Ryan Williams made a sliding catch of Corey Fox’s line drive.

Livernois and Sean Carlson had run-scoring singles.

“Getting ahead early certainly helps,” Livernois said. “You can relax and pitch.”

He could put his feet up when the Aztecs scored six in the sixth.

Carlson, a senior first baseman, led off the inning with a home run to right field, which took the fight out of the Braves. It also took the legs out from under Carlson; he fell on his face after touching first base.

“I was watching the ball and my knee locked up,” Carlson said. “But I got to see it go over the fence before I fell. It would have been a lot more embarrassing had I fallen on a fly out.”

Still, there was an eager Livernois waiting to greet Carlson at home plate.

“First I asked him, ‘How can you fall down on a home run,’ ” Livernois said. “I then told him thanks for getting us excited again and helping me out.”