A WILD CARD WILDCAT WIN

Milken Community 10, Lennox Math & Science Academy 0

By Joe Cohen

The old chestnut "Pitching is the name of the game" was so true Tuesday
afternoon in Encino when Jordan (J.J.) Ross & Harris Girocco combined to pitch a
one hit shut-out to propel the Milken Community High School Wildcats into the
field of 32 in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 Play-offs with a 10-0 win
over the Lennox Math & Science Academy Panthers. Both teams had finished 3rd in
their respective leagues during the regular season--the Wildcats 4-4 in the
Heritage League and the Panthers 3-5 in the Coastal League.

Coming off a close one-run loss to league rival & #2 seed New Roads and having
won a 2011 wild card game, the Panthers came to Encino from their home base near
LAX, hoping history would repeat. But it wasn't meant to be as J. J. & Harris
backed with great fielding support--yeah there were a couple of errors--were too
much for the visitors. J. J. pitched the first 3 innings, retired the first 8
batters he faced--3 strikeouts included-- before center fielder Brian Alvarez
bounced a high chopper past Harris, playing 3rd at the time, and into left field
for the only Lennox hit of the game. J. J. then retired Jesus Esqueda on a grounder to 2nd
baseman Noah Mintz to retire the side. Noah had previously made a terrific play
in the top of the 2nd when he smothered clean-up hitter Leonardo Vela's
scorching ground ball, picking it up and firing to Jonah Resnick at first for
the out.

With Milken leading 6-0 after 3 innings and the possibility of a
Friday afternoon game on the horizon, Coach Chris Scarlata replaced
J. J., bringing Harris in to pitch with J. J. going to short and Mitchell Mayer
moving over to 3rd. Harris went the final 4 innings, striking out 3 and holding
Lennox scoreless and hitless, albeit the Panthers threatened in the top of the 4th
when, with 2 down, they loaded the bases on an error and a pair of walks. But
as opposed to the 4th inning scenario at Hillcrest last week, Harris squelched
the rally thanks to Jason Welsh making a fine running cacth of a Marco Diaz fly
ball--one of 3 Jason take-aways in center. After that, Lennox stranded a runner
(error) in the 5th and another (walk) in the 6th. Harris then retired the side
in order in the 7th. Not too shabby for someone who hadn't pitched before this
season.

On the flip side of the pitching ledger, Milken took advantage of wildness on
the part of 4 Panther pitchers who combined to issue 11 walks, hit 3 batters and
be called for moistening the ball with Jonah, the batter, being awarded first.
By the 3rd inning, every Milken batter had either walked or was hit by a pitch.
Milken also pounded out 9 hits and only some fine fielding and crucial
strike outs--8 K's--prevented the Wildcats who stranded 14 runners--from a
bigger double digit win. There is no 10 run mercy rule in play-offs.

Lennox starting pitcher Ignacio Salazar lasted only 1/3 of an
inning--Milken scoring 4 times on only one hit. On his first pitch, Salazar hit Jason and followed by walking
J.J. Mitchell put Milken ahead for keeps with a single to center to drive in
Jason. Corey Gitman walked and Jonah was hit by another pitch to force home J.
J. Harris took a called 3rd strike for the first out but when Salazar walked
Sammy Lawrence to force home Mitchell to make it 3-0, he was replaced by 3rd
baseman Manny Carrillo. Mintz went down swinging but designated hitter Omer
Weisburd (Josh Klein was in right field) went to 3 & 2 and walked--Corey
scoring the fourth run of the inning before Jason, up for the 2nd time, popped
out. Milken added two more runs in the 2nd. With 2 down--two fine plays Panther 3rd baseman
Corey doubled, took 3rd on a passed ball and scored on
Jonah's single. Carrillo then couldn't find the plate, walking Harris, Sammy
and Noah to force home Jonah. 6-0 after 2.

After going scoreless in the 3rd (running into a double play) and stranding 2 in
the 4th, Milken put the game away with 4 more runs in the 5th.
Jason started it again with a double, stole 3rd and one out later scored again
when Mitchell singled him home again. Corey was hit by a pitch and Jonah singled
to load the bases. Harris made it 5 forced in runs for the day when he
walked--Mitchell scoring. Sammy hit a fly ball that dropped just fair in right
field for a single to drive in Corey. After Noah fouled out to the catcher--a
fine running catch, Omer capped off the scoring with a single to drive in Jonah.

In the 6th, with Eduardo Herrera pitching, Mitchell reached when his fly ball
to center was dropped and Jonah walked again. But Will Zuckerman batting for
Harris--resting him to pitch the 7th--struck out. Wound up everybody got into
the act with Mitchell and Jason both going 2 for 4 and scoring twice; Corey
going 1 or 3 and scoring 3 times; Jonah was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI's and Sammy 1 for
1 with 2 RBI's--Omer 1 for 3 also 2 RBI's, Noah & Harris each with a RBI and J.
J., a run and 3 near perfect innings on the mound.

Also winning a wild card game yesterday was Heritage League opponent Santa
Clarita Christian--an at large qualifier-- who decimated Omega League runner up
Trinity Classical Academy 21-1--beat them twice earlier, 15-1 & 18-1. Cardinals
next play Friday against defending champion Animo in Inglewood on Friday.
Pacifica Christian will have
to make a 500 mile round trip to and from Atascadero on Friday to play North
County Christian. Also on Friday, #1 seed Hillcrest
Christian will host Valley Torah--still another Omega League team who won a wild
card game.

Milken will also have a long ride on Friday when they
journey to Riverside--about 80-85 miles one way--to play the #3 seed Riverside
Christian Cougars. Game site is at the California Baptist University

This post was edited on 5/16 8:21 PM by Dave Keefer