Baseball:
At first glance, Jacob Billings isn’t an imposing figure.
In fact, he looks like someone you might see walking out of the ocean with a surfboard in his arms.
But make no mistake about it, when he’s on the mound, Jacob Billings pitches like a grown man.
And Friday was just another example of that.
Billings threw a three-hit shutout and Rancho Cucamonga defeated Downey, 4-0, in the quarterfinal round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs.
The Cougars’ right-hander didn’t walk anyone, struck out six and needed just 80 pitches to pick up the road victory.
RCHS defeated Omar Serrano, who one week ago today, threw a perfect game against Westlake.
Serrano allowed four runs on six hits over his 6 1/3 innings.
He walked two and struck out six Cougars’ batters.
Jake Brown drove in the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning on a fielder’s choice.
Michael Woodward doubled the lead to 2-0 with a solo blast over the left-field wall in a three-run sixth inning for RCHS.
And it was Aaron Whobrey who put the game on ice with his two-run, pinch-hit to right.
Jacob McCombs and Bradyn France walked and scored one run each.
Wilson Dunn doubled and scored in the win.
Up next: The Cougars will host Murrieta Mesa on Tuesday in the semifinal round.
First pitch is set for 10 a.m.
The Rams (26-6) defeated Monrovia, 6-2, in their quarterfinal contest on Friday.
Below the stats are interviews with Coach Garcia, Billings, Woodward & Whobrey, as well as one of Billings’ six strikeouts.
Box Score:
RC: 0-0-0-0-1-3-0-(4)
D: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-(0)
Win: Jacob Billings
Loss: Omar Serrano
HR: Michael Woodward (RC)
2B: Wilson Dunn (RC)
Records: Rancho Cucamonga (21-11); Downey (15-14)
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