Left Finishes Off Lompoc

Scott Drootin of Chaminade High earned a nomination Friday for gutsiest coaching move of the season.

In a 1-0 Southern Section Division IV quarterfinal victory over Lompoc, pitcher Sean Clark of Chaminade entered the seventh inning with a two-hitter.

Trent Froehlich led off with an infield single, causing Drootin to pull Clark for left-hander Bobby Paschal.

Fans watching from the Birmingham High bleachers were stunned. Clark had been in control, retiring eight consecutive batters until the infield single.

“It’s not like we were bringing in chopped liver,” Drootin said.

Paschal picked off four runners Tuesday against Ocean View and was told not to let Froehlich leave the bag.

First, he got Brooks Garcia to pop out on a bunt. Then Froehlich was forced out at second on a ground ball.

Finally, Paschal made Drootin look like a genius, ending the game by picking off Brian Aguailar at first.

“I trusted him,” Clark said of Paschal, who gained his first high school save.

Chaminade (25-3) will face top-seeded Bishop Amat (22-2) in Tuesday’s semifinals.

From the opening pitch, both teams knew one run might win it. Chaminade bunted three times for sacrifices, Lompoc (25-4) once.

Froehlich struck out five, walked one and scattered eight hits. The only run came home on D.J. Milonas’ bases-loaded single in the sixth.

Clark was even better, striking out one, walking one while producing seven ground-ball outs. Clark (9-2) and Paschal (12-0), both juniors, have given up one run in 18 playoff innings. They could be the region’s best one-two combination since Jeff Suppan and Keith Evans led Crespi to the Division I semifinals in 1993.

“Those two pitchers are just unbelievable,” Drootin said. “Sean proved today he could be up there with the big guys.”

Clark’s maturity was never more evident than the first inning. He walked Andrew Aguailar to start the game. Twice the umpire called balls that looked like strikes to the second batter, Jason Carlson.

Clark didn’t say a word. He got Carlson to hit into a double play.

“Last year, I would have got upset,” Clark said. “This year, I know I have to play my game.

“I have tremendous confidence in my defense. I knew I didn’t have to strike out 30. I just had to get ground balls.”