L.A. Baptist Win Streak Ends Quickly in Final

What started with a late-season scramble for a playoff spot, and continued with a surprising postseason winning streak, ended abruptly for L.A. Baptist High.

Appearing in their first championship, the Knights lost to Santa Ana Calvary Chapel, 12-0, in the Southern Section Division V baseball title game that was halted after six innings because of the 10-run rule Friday at Blair Field.

Experience may have played a part--Calvary Chapel started eight seniors, L.A. Baptist started two--but Brett Young was a main reason for the Knights’ problems.

The 6-foot-6 Young (15-0), one of three players on Calvary Chapel to have signed with Mississippi, allowed only three hits and struck out six in 5 1/3 innings.

“Dominating,” said L.A. Baptist Coach Mark Hubbard, before assessing the rest of the team. “As expected, they’re the real deal.”

L.A. Baptist (18-7), which finished third in the Alpha League, upset third-seeded Arrowhead Christian and second-seeded Lancaster Desert Christian en route to the championship game, buttoppling No. 1-seeded Calvary Chapel (28-1-1) was a lot to ask.

The Knights’ best chance came with one out and the bases loaded in the fifth inning. Trailing, 8-0, they got no closer when Richard Wednt hit a short fly ball to center field and Andrew Petersen, their best hitter, struck out looking.

“After a while, you wish you could do something to have things turn around,” first baseman Scott Swenson said. “We just didn’t do our job.”