Tritons Aim for a Happy Ending

Good stories often unfold during the baseball playoffs. And San Clemente is scripting an interesting one.

Finishing third in the South Coast League and going into the Southern Section playoffs as Division I wild-card entry have not put the Tritons at a disadvantage. After ousting Esperanza and Encino Crespi, San Clemente beat another high-profile team Tuesday, defeating Long Beach Millikan, 3-2, in eight innings.

San Clemente (19-10), which will play second-seeded Riverside Arlington on Friday, got a gift from the visiting Rams (22-6) for the game-winning run.

Triton shortstop Darin Johanson opened the bottom of the eighth with a double off reliever Sam Fernley (8-2). The next hitter, outfielder Mike Corder, laid down a sacrifice bunt as Johnson broke for third. Fernley fielded the bunt but made a hasty throw. The ball skipped past Millikan third baseman Matt Beard and down the line, enabling Johanson to score the winning run.

While admitting “it was a tough way to lose,” Millikan Coach Dan Peters placed no blame on Fernley.

“We had put on a play where the throw was designed to go to third unless it was bunted softly,” Peters said. “It wasn’t that great of a bunt, but the runner got a good jump.”

Right-hander Jeff Goodman (9-3), went the distance for San Clemente, walking three and striking out seven.

Millikan nicked him for an unearned run in the first--on Fernley’s RBI single--but Triton outfielder Billy Conrad gave San Clemente the lead with a two-run homer in the fourth off Ram starter Andrew Tisdale that bounced off the scoreboard in right center.

Millikan outfielder Bill Saul tied the score with a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Goodman shut down the Rams afterward.

“We knew they would be tough,” said Goodman, who gave up six hits. “Everything we heard about them said they didn’t strike out much and kept the ball in play. I tried to keep them guessing but they were right on the ball several times.”

Along with the satisfaction of reaching the quarterfinals, San Clemente Coach Dave Gellatly said the playoff victories were a big boost for San Clemente.

“Regardless of what else happens, this has been a breakthrough season for us. We are starting to build our own tradition,” Gellatly said.

In other Division I games:

El Toro 5, Bell Gardens 0--Brian Hughes (6-4) went the distance for host El Toro (18-11), striking out six and walking none. Bob Pearce added two doubles and two RBIs for El Toro, which plays Rialto in the next round.

Los Alamitos 9, Downey 3--Dave Smith (6-2), pitched six innings, giving up three runs and striking out five for visiting Los Alamitos (19-9). Smith also went three for four and hit a home run. Greg Castillo led off the game with a home run for the Griffins, which play the Long Beach Wilson-Thousand Oaks winner.

Mater Dei 5, Yucaipa 4--Josh Hansen hit a home run and Jon Kinney hit a run-scoring double in the sixth inning to give the host Monarchs a 5-3 lead. Mater Dei starter Brandon Espinosa was relieved in the fifth by Nick Lovato (11-1), who struck out three in two innings against Yucaipa (23-4). Mater Dei plays Fontana Miller next.