Hitters’ Paradise Perfect for Capistrano Valley

The sky cleared in time for Friday’s Southern Section Division I baseball quarterfinal, providing the perfect hitter’s setting for Upland and host Capistrano Valley.

Only the Cougars took advantage, though. With the wind blowing toward the short porch in right field, Capistrano Valley hit three home runs and routed Upland, 11-1, in a game stopped in the fifth inning because of the mercy rule.

The Cougars (21-8-1) worked on hitting to right field all week. The payoff was a 13-hit barrage that included home runs to right by Justin Demere and Kellan McConnell, and one to center by Brad Davis.

“Talk about our day, this was it,” said Cougar Coach Bob Zamora. “The wind blew it all to right field, but those shots weren’t flukes. We finally got some good weather.”

Demere had five runs batted in and went three for three, including an opposite-field homer in the second to give the Cougars a 6-0 lead. He added a two-run, game-ending single to center with one out in the fifth.

Jeff Scuderi also had three hits for the Cougars, who will face Los Alamitos Tuesday in a semifinal at Blair Field in Long Beach.

Upland (17-9-1) put runners at second and third with no outs in the first, but Cougar starter Frank McLaughlin (6-0) retired the next three batters and went on to earn the win. He gave up three hits through five innings.

McConnell’s two-run home run highlighted a three-run first inning for the Cougars. They went up, 8-1, in the third when Travis Becktel reached on a three-base error in right field and scored on a single by Mike Davis, who scored later on a sacrifice fly by Sean Gonzalez.