St. Bonaventure On Wrong End of One-Run Decision

St. Bonaventure High has lived by the sword during the postseason, twice advancing on one-run victories.

On Tuesday, the Seraphs died by the sword, losing 6-5 to five-time champion Temecula Linfield in a Southern Section Division V semifinal at St. Bonaventure.

Tim Coultas’ fourth-inning throwing error on Josh Stevens’ run-scoring single allowed two more runs to score, giving the Lions (22-3) a comfortable 6-0 lead.

Pat Deverick kept St. Bonaventure (11-13) alive with a two-out triple in the seventh inning, but that was as close as the Serpahs could get.

After scoring once in the fourth inning, the Seraphs mounted a comeback in the sixth by opening the inning with three singles.

Linfield pitcher Robert Ruiz threw a comebacker by Alex Frias into center field for a three-run error. R.J. Shirk doubled in Frias.

Linfield second baseman Clint Hinkle killed the rally with an unassisted double play.

“I kept telling the guys we had to get [run] number seven,” said first-year Linfield Coach John Martin, who is guiding the Lions to their seventh appearance in the championship game. “Their last two wins were 7-6, and I kept thinking it might happen again.”

DIVISION VI

Grace Brethren 6, Colton Christian Center Academy 5--The Lancers earned their first playoff victory on the field after a quarterfinal victory by forfeit.

Grace Brethren (22-2) lost to Pacific Coast Christian, 4-2, last week but was awarded a victory when it was discovered that Pacific Coast Christian had used a pitcher in four games in one week, a violation of Southern Section rules.

Grace Brethren will play La Verne Lutheran, a 6-2 winner over Bloomington Christian, in the final.