Baseball:

Editor’s Note: Calabasas doesn’t post their individual or team stats online.

In this writer’s opinion, there is no position in any sport that has more of an impact on the outcome of a game quite like a pitcher.

Yes, a great quarterback can go a long way in leading a program or franchise to a championship.

But so can a swarming defense or an effective running game.

A point guard is vital in leading an offense and setting the tone for his or her team, but a dominating center, athletic forward or a hot-shooting No. 2 guard can also take over a game.

Barring a defensive meltdown, good pitching will keep you in every game.

And no program is a better example of that than the 2023 South Hills baseball team.

Through 29 games, the Huskies pitching staff leads all area programs with a miniscule 1.15 team ERA.

Not surprisingly, that stat has translated into an area-best 23 wins, and a date in Tuesday’s CIF-SS Division 2 semifinal against visiting Calabasas.

The Coyotes (22-9) offense averages approximately five runs per game.

And 20 of their 151 runs scored in 2023 have come in playoff victories over Norco (9-3), Vista Murrieta (8-3) and Gahr (3-1).

Throughout 2023, the Calabasas staff surrendered just over three runs per game, but they’ve allowed just seven total in the postseason.

Ten South Hills pitchers have combined to allow just 50 runs in 29 games.

Of those 50, only three were surrendered in playoff wins over Greak Oak (6-0), Charter Oak (8-2) and West Ranch (2-1).

Sterling Patick (10-1, 0.30 ERA, 17 walks and 104 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings) went six innings and allowed just an unearned run in Friday’s 2-1 victory over West Ranch.

It would seem more than likely that Joseph Moreno (5-3, 1.66 ERA, 35 walks & 54 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings) will get the ball from SHHS skipper, Darren Murphy.

The South Hills lefty got the save on Friday by going a scoreless seventh inning.

And last Tuesday, Moreno went 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the 8-2 victory at Charter Oak.

The Huskies offense is led by Noah Malone (.359, 23 hits, 14 runs, 23 RBIs, four doubles & two HR’s), Matt Moreno (.344, 31 hits, 24 runs, 18 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple & one HR), Steven Jimenez .329, 25 hits, 19 runs, 19 RBIs, six doubles, one triple & three HR’s), Marcos Rosales (.322, 29 hits, 31 runs, 14 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples & two HR’s) and Paul Vazquez (.295, 26 hits, 22 runs, 27 RBIs, seven doubles & four HR’s).

If Moreno does his part on the mound and the South Hills offense can piece together some runs, the boys in green will face the Crespi-Aquinas winner for the Division 2 championship this weekend.

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Batting:
Noah Malone: .359, 23 hits, 14 runs, 23 RBIs, four doubles & two HR’s)
Matt Moreno: .344, 31 hits, 24 runs, 18 RBIs, seven doubles, one triple & one HR)
Steven Jimenez: .329, 25 hits, 19 runs, 19 RBIs, six doubles, one triple & three HR’s)
Marcos Rosales: .322, 29 hits, 31 runs, 14 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples & two HR’s)
Paul Vazquez: .295, 26 hits, 22 runs, 27 RBIs, seven doubles & four HR’s)

Pitching:
Joseph Moreno: 5-3, 1.66 ERA, 35 walks & 54 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings
Sterling Patick: 10-1, 0.30 ERA, 17 walks and 104 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings
Matt Moreno: 0-0, 1.35 ERA, seven walks, 11 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings
Daniel Camou: 2-1, 0.66 ERA, 10 walks and 31 strikeouts in 21 1/3 IP
Justin Romero: 1-0, 0.88 ERA, seven walks and 16 strikeouts in 16 IP
Elias Reyes: 1-1, 4.42 ERA, seven walks and 11 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings

By the Numbers:
Records: C (22-9); SH (23-6)
Runs Scored: C (151); SH (172)
Runs Against: C (96); (50)
League Finish: C (Marmonte champs); SH (Hacienda champs)
Playoff Runs Scored: C (20); SH (16)
Playoff Runs Allowed: C (7); SH (3)
Most Runs Scored in a Game: C (11 vs West Ranch & Agoura); SH (18 vs Rowland)
Most Runs Allowed in a Game: C (8 vs Westlake); SH (7 vs Newbury Park)
Calabasas Road Record: 9-5
South Hills Home Record: 13-3
CIF-SS D-2 Ranking: C (unranked); SH (2)
MaxPreps State Ranking: C (45); SH (43)
Current Streak: C (won five) SH (won six)

Playoff Results:
5/5:
Calabasas 9, Norco 3
South Hills 6, Great Oak 0

5/9:
Calabasas 8, Vista Murrieta 3
South Hills 8, Charter Oak 2

5/12:
Calabasas 3, Gahr 1
South Hills 2, West Ranch 1

5/16: Calabasas at South Hills

Tuesday’s CIF-SS Division 2 Schedule:
Crespi at Aquinas
Calabasas at South Hills