Canyon’s Smith Drives In Seven

Brandon Smith of Canyon High said he was thinking about getting a base hit during a key at-bat in the fifth inning of the Comanches’ Southern Section Division II semifinal baseball game against Tustin Tuesday.

Canyon Coach Mike Najera said he was hoping for at least a sacrifice fly from his junior designated hitter. Tustin Coach Tim O’Donoghue was clearly looking for a double play from Smith when he had Mike Tomarelli intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.

Smith surpassed all expectations with a grand slam over the center-field fence at Villa Park High. He finished with seven runs batted in as Canyon won, 9-1, to advance to the championship game against Upland at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Blair Field in Long Beach.

Smith’s big day started in the first inning when he singled to drive in two runs. His hit came after singles by Jeff Leuenberger, Bobby Fry and Tomarelli loaded the bases with one out.

Canyon took a 3-1 lead when Troy Mills singled and Leuenberger walked to start the fifth. Greg Garcia was brought in to pitch and struck out Fry. A wild pitch moved runners to second and third and Garcia fell behind Tomarelli two balls and no strikes before he was walked intentionally.

Smith got a high fastball and said he knew it was a home run as soon as he hit it. It was the second grand slam of the year for Smith, who has 39 RBIs. He added a run-scoring ground out in the sixth when Canyon scored twice.

Canyon (26-3) also got outstanding pitching performances from Tomarelli and Leuenberger. Tomarelli got 10 ground-ball outs over the first five innings to improve to 8-0. He gave up one run and was saved from another by second baseman Leuenberger. Tustin had runners on first and third in the fifth when Brennan Burns lashed a bouncer up the middle. Leuenberger got the ball, stepped on second and threw to first for a nifty inning-ending double play.

Leuenberger gave up two hits in the final two innings.

Rick Gonzalez walked, reached second on an error and scored on a double to left by Nick Madrid in the fourth for Tustin (19-10).

In a Division VI game:

Riverside Woodcrest Christian 11, Southern California Christian 3--Robert Ekberg pitched a complete game at Canyon High, allowing only four hits for second-seeded Woodcrest Christian (22-4), which advanced to the final.

SCC starter Mark Caballero only lasted into the third inning and the Flames (20-7) trailed, 7-2, after 4 1/2 innings.