Bishop Amat Has Enough to Repeat

Adam Simon pitched a four-hitter and scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning on an error to help top-seeded La Puente Bishop Amat win its second consecutive Southern Section Division IV title with a 2-1 victory over second-seeded Westminster La Quinta at Edison Field on Saturday.

The UCLA-bound Simon scored on a routine grounder by pinch-hitter Andrew Soto. Third baseman Ian Stewart of La Quinta (29-3) fielded the ball cleanly, but Brian Wason missed the catchable throw to first, allowing Simon to score from third with two outs.

“It’s what everyone dreams of,” said Simon, who helped Bishop Amat finish 28-2. “I had this in my mind since I was a little kid.”

Simon (13-0) struck out five and walked one but hit three batters. He allowed an unearned run in the second when Ed Arreola walked, took second on a ground out and scored on Brandon Laird’s single off right fielder Matthew Lawhorn’s glove.

La Quinta starter Ian Kennedy was equally effective, striking out eight over six innings. He escaped two jams but contributed to Bishop Amat’s first run when his pickoff throw to first base in the third inning was wide and allowed Mark Esparza to take third base. Esparza then scored on David Pierson’s ground out. Mike McKernan relieved Kennedy in the seventh.