Photo courtesy of Andrew Wheeler
College Baseball:
If Citrus has any desire of winning a Western State Conference South title, there isn’t a bigger stumbling block on that path than Glendale College.
The Vaqueros have been the conference’s premier program for a long time.
And on Tuesday, Glendale survived a late Citrus rally to secure an 11-9 victory in game one of a three-game series.
Fast forward to Thursday, and the Owls evened the series with an 8-7 victory.
The Vaqueros scored four times in the top of the eighth to pull to within one run, but Matt Martinez shut the door.
Conner Luetto, who possesses one of the state’s lowest ERAs went seven innings, and he was charged with three runs on six hits.
Luetto issued three walks and registered 10 strikeouts.
After scoring four runs on two hits and a walk off Sean York in 1/3 of an inning, Martinez got the final five outs.
Martinez allowed one hit and struck out two to earn the save.
Jordan Viramontes walked and his eighth-inning grand slam was what pulled Glendale to within 8-7.
Former Marshall star Trevor Lain had a two-run double.
Jackson Lyons went 3-for-5, including an RBI triple from the leadoff spot.
David Lozano and Jackson Pratt singled, doubled and scored one run apiece.
Noah Jaquez drew a pair of walks and scored two runs.
Jimmy Cafferty got the loss after surrendering six runs on three hits over four innings.
Cafferty walked four and fanned seven Citrus batters.
The Owls got to Colby Bette for two runs on five hits and a walk over 1 1/3 innings.
Garrett Patterson had his best collegiate game at the plate.
He went 3-for-3, including a double and a three-run HR in the fourth to extend the Citrus lead to 6-3.
Cole West singled, had an RBI double and a two-run HR.
Derek Almeda went 2-for-4 with two runs, and his two-run double gave the Owls its first lead of the game at 2-1.
Joe Gilkeson drew a pair of walks, singled and scored two times.
Nick Velazquez walked twice and scored a pair of runs.
Jordan Daniels singled once in the win.
Up next: The Owls and Vaqueros will decide the series on Saturday at noon at GCC.
Quotable:
Citrus pitcher, Conner Luetto: “I think it was important that I was able to establish both sides of the plate in any count. I was just trying to keep them guessing. This win was big. We know they are a good team, and we came into this week knowing it was going to be a battle, and we’ve got that the first two games. We just have to keep it going on Saturday.”
Citrus catcher, Garrett Patterson: “Glendale has been the team to beat for the last 15 years and they’re a great program. After the loss on Tuesday, we were hungry. We had our ace on the mound (Conner Luetto) and that gave us a lot of confidence. Matt Martinez came in and he got the last five outs. This kid just goes after people and we’re happy to have him on our side. I went 0-for-5 on Tuesday, so it felt great to do my part in the win. We’re not satisfied with one game, though. We’re going into Saturday’s game at GCC looking to win the series.”
Box Score:
G: 0-0-1-2-0-0-0-4-0-(7)
C: 0-0-3-3-2-0-0-0-X-(8)
Win: Conner Luetto
Loss: Jimmy Cafferty
Save: Matthew Martinez
HR: Jordan Viramontes (G); Garrett Patterson (C), Cole West (C)
3B: Jackson Lyons (G)
2B: David Lozano (G), Trevor Lain (G), Jackson Pratt (G); Derek Almeda (C), Cole West (C), Garrett Patterson (C)
Records: Glendale (11-6-1, 1-1); Citrus (12-6, 1-1)
Photo by Jeff Serpa Softball: Every Division 1-9 Semifinal Playoff Score: D-1: La Mirada 5, La Habra 1 Jserra 2, Norco 0 D-2: Whittier Christian 11, St. Paul 8 Mater Dei 4, San Clemente 2 D-3: Great Oak 10, Edison 5 North Torrance 4, San Juan Hills 3 D-4: Oxnard 1, Monrovia 0 Mission Viejo […]
Softball: Oxnard escaped Monrovia, 1-0, in the semifinal round of the CIF-SS Division 4 playoffs in a pitcher’s duel. The Yellowjackets got a single run in the top of the third inning when Rachel Godoy connected on a two-out solo home run to center. The Wildcats star freshman pitcher, Carly Polanco, went the distance, and […]
Baseball: No one on the Covina roster was alive the last time the Colts had won a playoff baseball game. And it was almost over before it began. CHS had to score three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to claim a 4-3 walk-off victory over their visitors from Tustin in the first […]
Photos by Carlo Montalbo (@Carlo.Montalbo on Instagram) Baseball: Most SGV area sports fans know Sebastian Lawrence as the quarterback at Glendora High School. And he’s served in that role for the first two years of his high school career. What many may not know is that Lawrence is also a clutch member of the Tartans […]
Photos by Carlo Montalbo (@Carlo.Montalbo on Instagram) Baseball: Glendora has earned a spot in its second consecutive CIF-SS semifinal round playoff game. Last year, the Tartans defeated Temecula Valley (7-5) in the semi’s, and they would edge San Dimas (2-0) to claim a D-3 championship. To secure a spot in the 2026 D-4 semifinals, GHS […]
Photo by Carlo Montalbo (@Carlo.Montalbo on Instagram) Baseball: Quarterfinal Round Scores: D-1: Notre Dame 7, Corona 2 Norco 3, Orange Lutheran 0 Harvard Westlake 2, Cypress 1 St. John Bosco at La Mirada (Saturday) Tuesday’s D-1 Semifinals: Notre Dame at Norco Harvard Westlake vs St. John Bosco-La Mirada winner D-2: Ganesha 4, Elsinore 0 Newport […]
Baseball: A remarkable 2026 season came to an end for the Muir baseball program. Lakewood edged the Mustangs, 5-3, in the quarterfinal round of the CIF-SS Division 6 playoffs. Trailing 3-0, MHS scored three times in the bottom of the fifth inning. However, the Lancers scored one run apiece in the top of the sixth […]
Photos by Gwen Pointer Baseball: The magical postseason run will continue for the Covina baseball program. Eight days ago, the Colts defeated Tustin (4-3) to claim their first playoff win in 20 years. CHS followed that with a 15-5 blowout at Alhambra on Tuesday. And today, Covina scored two runs in the first and second […]
Baseball: Duarte got out to an early five-run lead and they’d hold on to defeat their host from Nuview Bridge, 7-5, in the quarterfinal round of the CIF-SS Division 8 playoffs. Nelson Lara was charged with five runs on five hits, three walks and a hit batter. Lara struck out two. Arian Garcia Mendoza went […]
