Arlington Title Ends Long Drought

Arlington became the first Riverside County team in 75 years to win a large-division baseball title when it defeated Long Beach Wilson, 4-3, on Saturday for the Division I championship before 13,761 at Edison Field.

Arlington (29-2)--whose only other final appearance was in 1987--denied Wilson (26-5) its first title since 1950. Before Arlington, Riverside (now Riverside Poly) was the last area champion, defeating El Monte in 1924.

Arlington starter Bill Murphy (13-1) pitched four innings for the victory, giving up two hits and one run.

Arlington left fielder Jason Fransz broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth with a two-run homer against Wilson starter Jeremy Hess (11-2). Catcher Ryan Christianson, the Seattle Mariners’ first-round pick in last week’s major league draft, followed with a solo shot.