Baseball:
If you’re a high school baseball player, you dream about moments like this.
First of all, Etiwanda has the opportunity to claim a second CIF-SS championship in the last five years.
And to add a little extra excitement, the Eagles will battle Torrance in Saturday’s late game at Cal State Fullerton.
The first pitch is scheduled for 7:30, and CIF has designated Etiwanda as the home team.
Torrance enters the contest having just defeated Maranatha, 2-1, on a walk-off error with two outs and the bases loaded.
The Tartars don’t post updated stats, but it doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to postulate just how valuable and vital the pitching staffs have been for both programs.
Torrance has surrendered just six total runs in wins over Gahr, Arlington, Rancho Cucamonga and Maranatha.
And for their part, Etiwanda’s Dylan Goff, Brady Ebel and Yahir Ramirez have teamed up on the mound and held Temecula Valley, Warren, Pacifica and Palos Verdes to just three combined runs.
Goff will get the start on Saturday, as Ebel went seven scoreless innings in Tuesday’s 5-0, 11-inning victory at Palos Verdes.
Goff is 10-0 this season, with a 0.77 ERA.
He’s walked 22 and struck out 77 opposing batters.
In speaking to his coach (Don Furnald) and teammates on Thursday afternoon, Goff’s composure under pressure, throwing a high percentage of strikes and his ability to use any of his three pitches in any count or game scenario is what makes the Etiwanda junior so effective.
The confidence level in Goff is off the charts, and if he gets in any trouble, the crafty veteran, Yahir Ramirez, will be ready at a moment’s notice.
And that gets us to the Etiwanda offense.
The versatility and production from hitters 1-through-9 has created havoc for opposing pitching staffs all year.
From the leadoff spot, Austen Roellig continues to set the table for EHS.
Roellig is batting .425, with 34 hits, 33 runs, 16 RBIs, 11 doubles, a triple and two home runs.
Armando Briseno the team leader in hits (40), while batting .367.
Briseno has scored 30 runs, and tallied 19 RBIs, five doubles, three triples and three home runs.
Tyler Shigenaka has turned in a terrific junior season.
Shigenaka is batting .390, with 32 hits, 23 runs, 19 RBIs, eight doubles, one triple & one home run.
Freddie Capacete is hitting.333, with 21 hits, eight runs scored, 14 RBIs, five doubles & one triple.
Tyler McEvoy has had some huge moments for the Baseline League champs, batting.313, with 26 hits, 19 runs, 24 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples & two home runs.
If his 6-0 record on the mound with a 0.32 ERA wasn’t enough, freshman Brady Ebel also chips in with his bat.
Ebel is batting .286, with 26 hits, 21 runs and a team-high 29 RBIs.
Ebel has three doubles, one triple & four home runs through Tuesday’s 5-0 victory at Palos Verdes.
Kaedon Mas has been a key contributor in 2022, and is currently hitting .274, tallying 17 hits, 18 runs, 16 RBIs, one double, one triple & one home run.
Mike Harrison (.317, 19 hits, 18 runs, 20 RBIs, six doubles & three home runs), Abraham Zapata (.291, 16 hits, six runs, 12 RBIs, four doubles & one triple) and Parker Sobiesiak (.295, 18 hits, 18 runs, 11 RBIs & two doubles) are the type of players necessary to have a deep playoff run.
Etiwanda actually had its team banquet tonight (Thursday) and I can’t post this until 8 p.m., as I promised Coach Don Furnald, that he will announce that freshman Brady Ebel is the Baseline League’s Most Valuable Player.
The Eagles won their fifth league championship in the last seven years.
All Baseline League first teamers included Goff, Briseno, Roellig, and McEvoy.
Capacete, Harrison, Shigenaka and Sobiesiak earned second-team honors.
For the second consecutive year, the Baseline League has been represented in a CIF-SS title game.
Last season, RCHS skipper Tony Garcia led the Cougars to the Division 4 championship game.
Royal defeated Rancho Cucamonga, 3-2,
With a win on Saturday night, Don Furnald would join a very elite club with two CIF-SS rings.
Note: CIF said parking after 5 p.m. is free at Cal State Fullerton for Saturday’s game.
Good luck, Eagles!
By the Numbers:
Records: T (25-5-1); E (24-8)
Runs Scored: T (195); E (246)
Runs Allowed: T (81); E (97)
Playoff Runs Scored: T (19); E
Playoff Runs Allowed: T (6); E
League Record: T (7-3); E (12-3)
League Finish: T (Pioneer co-champs); E (Baseline champs)
Current Win Streak: T (5); E (7)
MaxPreps State Ranking: T (29); E (22)
Etiwanda’s Playoff Schedule/Results:
5/5: Etiwanda 10, Temecula Valley 2
5/10: Etiwanda 10, Warren 1
5/13: Etiwanda 10, Pacifica 0
5/17: Etiwanda 5, Palos Verdes 0 (11 innings)
5/21: Etiwanda vs Torrance at CSUF at 7:30
Torrance’s Playoff Schedule/Results:
5/5: Torrance 5, Gahr 4
5/10: Torrance 7, Arlington 0
5/13: Torrance 5, Rancho Cucamonga 1
5/17: Torrance 2, Maranatha 1
5/21: Torrance vs Etiwanda at CSUF at 7:30
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