Baseball:
One way or another, Ayala’s remarkable 2021 baseball season will come to an end today in South Orange County.
The Bulldogs (26-3) will play for the CIF State Division 1 championship at JSerra Catholic.
The first pitch is set for noon.
JSerra (29-7) is the CIF-SS Division 1 runner up, having lost a 2-0 decision to Harvard Westlake, and 11 days ago, the Lions defeated Ayala, 11-7, in the semifinal round.
They scored seven of their 11 runs in the final two innings, and Cody Schrier, Luke Jewett and Colin Blanchard combined for eight hits, four runs and seven RBI’s.
The Lions trio each homered as well.
It would seem that Ayala is going to face off with JSerra senior Gage Jump, just as they did 11 days ago in Chino Hills.
David Horn went all five innings in JSerra’s 10-0 victory over Liberty of Bakersfield on Tuesday, and Tristan Lamalson allowed one run in Thursday’s 4-2 victory over Orange Lutheran.
Lamalson went 3 1/3 innings, scattered four hits, walked one and struck out one O-Lu batter.
In the semifinals of the CIF-SS playoffs, the Bulldogs got to Jump for four runs on eight hits over his five innings of work.
Jump walked two and struck out seven to pick up the win.
On paper, JSerra would be considered the favorite, and the fact that they’re hosting Ayala has to make the Lions feel even more comfortable.
But keep in mind, this time around, Ayala ace, Thomas Cerecedes, will get the ball for the Bulldogs.
Cerecedes is 11-0, with a 1.22 ERA.
He’s allowed 12 earned runs in 68 2/3 innings.
The Ayala senior has walked seven batters all year and struck out 36.
The Bulldogs offense also has the capability to explode at any moment.
Cole Koniarsky is batting .404, with 44 hits, 34 runs, 37 RBIs, eight doubles and six home runs.
From the leadoff spot, Jake Badawi is hitting at a .393 clip, with 42 hits, 36 runs, 33 RBIs, 12 doubles, three triples and three home runs.
Mateo Matthews (.367, 36 hits, 24 runs, 39 RBIs, nine doubles and nine home runs) is coming off a two home-run day in Thursday’s semifinal victory over Amat.
Ty Borgogno is hitting .423, with 41 hits, 28 runs, 24 RBIs and 10 doubles.
Troy McCain is having a remarkable junior season, batting .440, with 37 hits, 34 runs, 29 RBIs, 11 doubles and seven home runs.
Luke Solis (.341, 30 hits, 27 runs, 16 RBIs, three doubles, one triple & a home run), Damien Delgadillo (.323, 21 hits, 25 runs, 22 RBIs, five doubles, one triple & three home runs), Marcus Galvan (.304, 21 hits, 19 runs, 19 RBIs, four doubles & two triples) and Ryan Moreno (.275, 22 hits, 21 runs, 23 RBIs, four doubles & four home runs) have all played a part in Ayala winning 90 percent of their games this season.
It would be safe to say that nearly the entire area is putting down their partisan hats on Saturday and hoping Ayala heads back to Chino Hills as the Division 1 state champions.
Quotable:
Ayala senior pitcher, Thomas Cerecedes: “I feel good about going into this game. JSerra is a good team, but I was already able to see them and how they handle lefty’s. If I can keep all my pitches low and away, and keep them on their heels, I can keep them at bay. Andres did good against them, so I just need to replicate that.”
CIF State Division 1 Scores:
First Round:
Bishop Amat 4, Buchanan 2
Ayala 8, Eastlake 6
Orange Lutheran 2, Grossmont 1
JSerra 10, Liberty 0
Semifinals:
Ayala 13, Bishop Amat 3 (five innings)
JSerra 4, Orange Lutheran 2
Championship:
Ayala at JSerra Catholic at 12
By The Numbers:
Records: Ayala (26-3); JSerra (29-7)
Runs For/Against: Ayala (281-107); JSerra (212-83)
League: Ayala (14-1, first in Palomares); JSerra (14-1, first in Trinity)
MaxPreps State Ranking: Ayala (8); JSerra (4)
Ayala Road Record: (12-2); JSerra Home Record: (15-5)
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