El Dorado Falls in Title Game of National Classic

El Dorado was a winner and a loser at the National Classic Tournament championship game Friday at Cal State Fullerton.

The Golden Hawks lost, 4-3 in eight innings to Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore.

Greg Dini, who pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout relief for the Hornets (23-2), singled in the winning run with one out in the bottom of the eighth off El Dorado starter Justin Angevine.

It was the third time El Dorado (12-4) has reached the tournament’s title game, only to be turned away. The Golden Hawks lost to Esperanza in 1991 and in 1997. Bishop Moore, one of Florida’s top teams, proved just as tough an opponent.

But the fact El Dorado--which defeated Miami Pace 11-3 in the semifinal that was suspended Thursday because of rain and completed Friday--even made it to the final was noteworthy.

Injuries have robbed the Golden Hawks of three top players: catcher Drew McMillian has injured a vertebrae in his back and has been idle since Monday; infielder Brett Marrow is sidelined with a dislocated kneecap, and infielder Ryan Valdez sustained a concussion and deep cut over his eye after being struck by a foul tip off his bat Thursday.

Coach Steve Gullotti wasn’t looking for moral victories or making excuses. El Dorado lost to a better team Friday but played well to reach the title game.

“We beat some good teams this week,” said Gullotti, recalling the Hawks’ wins over Langley (S.C.) Midland Valley, Jacksonville (Fla.) Englewood and Pace. “We played a very good game tonight. We need to improve on some things but there are good things we can take back into [Empire] league play next week.”

For a minute the Hawks appeared ready to take control of the game. Bishop Moore had a 2-1 lead when catcher Rich Wallace hit a two-run homer in the first inning. But in the second, El Dorado first baseman J.P. Frid’s bases-loaded single put El Dorado back in front, 3-2, with one out.

Bishop Moore Coach Dave Wheeler then replaced starter Rich Brantley--”I didn’t feel like he was clicking out there”--with Dini, a sophomore utility player who is also the Hornets’ closer.

Dini had pitched only 10 innings this season, but stopped the Golden Hawks on three hits the rest of the way. He struck out 11 (and walked two) and was selected the tournament’s outstanding pitcher. His closest call came in the eighth when Mitch Nord, named the tournament’s outstanding hitter, tripled to right with one out but didn’t score. Dini the got two groundouts to end the inning.

“I knew I could do it,” said Dini, who got a save Monday in the Hornet’s win over Glendale (Ariz.) Deer Valley. “I felt confident when I went out there in the second. And in the eighth, I just told myself to keep calm and keep the ball down.”