Esperanza Gets Jump on Wilson

Esperanza High’s inability to take early leads made Coach Mike Curran nervous going into Tuesday’s Southern Section Division I baseball semifinal against Long Beach Wilson at Blair Field in Long Beach.

He needn’t have worried. Esperanza took a two-run lead in the first inning and eventually put away Wilson, 10-2.

The Aztecs advanced to Saturday night’s championship game at Dodger Stadium against Crescenta Valley, a 3-0 winner over Yucaipa.

Wilson (21-5-1) seemed to have everything in its favor. The Bruins were hosting the Aztecs (21-7-1) and Curran was using a pitcher who hadn’t thrown in two weeks.

But Esperanza played nearly flawless baseball. Three hits and a sacrifice fly put Esperanza on top before Wilson got to the plate. The Aztecs added what proved to be the winning run in the second inning on a double by Jesus Oregel and a pair of sacrifice bunts, including a suicide squeeze by catcher Joe Cristo.

Wilson got a run in the bottom of the third inning, but Esperanza countered with solo runs in the fourth and fifth despite getting only one hit.

Meanwhile, Aztec pitcher Jonathan Quiming scattered nine hits and puzzled the Bruins by mixing off-speed pitches with his fastball.

Esperanza scored five runs in the top of the sixth on four hits, a pair of walks and two scoring sacrifice flies. Quiming gave up a home run to Pat Leone in the bottom of the inning.

In the other semifinal, pitcher Jordan Olson overcame back spasms to lead Crescenta Valley (24-3-1) past Yucaipa (19-11) to its first championship game.

Olson (10-1), who clutched his back several times during the game and had problems fielding, gave up five hits and struck out six in 6 1/3 innings.

Mark McCauley and Chris Oliver each singled and scored during Crescenta Valley’s decisive three-run inning.