To say that St. John Bosco and Santa Margarita engaged in a championship baseball sport on Friday night time that might be remembered for a lifetime can be an understatement.
“This game was special, something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. You really had to fight for it,” mentioned St. John Bosco left fielder Noah Everly.
It was a Southern Part Division 1 closing stuffed with drama. Youngsters got here by means of with large play after large play till lastly within the backside of the ninth inning, with the bases loaded, Miles Clark hit a walk-off single up the center to present St. John Bosco a 3-2 victory and its first baseball championship earlier than a sold-out crowd of three,010 at Cal State Fullerton.
Unbelievable sport ends with walk-off single by Miles Clark in B9. St. John Bosco wins D1 title over Santa Margarita 3-2. pic.twitter.com/ypUNfQqYra
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) Might 31, 2025
“It hurts a lot,” Santa Margarita coach Chris Malec mentioned. “It was a great effort by both sides. There were so many amazing moments.”
Unbelievable. The Nice Escape within the seventh inning for Brennan Bauer. On 3-2 rely with bases loaded fly out. Finish of seven, Bosco 2, Santa Margarita 2. pic.twitter.com/26mOk7XZOb
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) Might 31, 2025
Let’s begin with Santa Margarita pitcher Brennan Bauer, who threw 5 scoreless innings of aid and someway escaped twice with the bases loaded within the backside of the seventh to maintain the sport going. First he had a 3-and-1 rely to Everly and obtained a pop fly with one out. Then he had a 3-2 rely with Moises Razo and obtained a fly out to the warning monitor.
“That’s all Brennan,” Malec mentioned.
In 22 1/3 playoff innings, Brenann gained 4 video games and gave up one earned run.
Then there was Everly coming by means of with a surprising catch on the run in left area within the high of the ninth inning to forestall a Santa Margarita further base hit with a runner on first.
“That was an extraordinary catch,” Malec mentioned.
Mentioned Clark: “Oh my goodness, Noah came through.”
Coach Andy Rojo raises the championship plaque after St. John Bosco’s 3-2 win over Santa Margarita.
(Nick Koza)
So did Clark towards aid pitcher Ethan Russell within the backside of the ninth. Bauer had run out of innings, having reached his 10-inning max after throwing 5 innings towards Crespi within the semifinals. Russell walked Razo on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases, setting the stage for Clark.
“We were locked in the whole game,” Clark mentioned. “We didn’t lose our mental focus. I kept telling my guys we have to stay focused.”
Razo had a two-run double within the first inning to present the Braves an early lead. Santa Margarita took benefit of an error and closed it to 2-1 within the second on Brody Schumaker’s second hit. The Eagles tied tied it at 2-2 within the fifth with a squeeze bunt by Blake Ankrum, the third sacrifice of the sport.
After Gavin Cervantes began on the mound and freshman Brayden Krakowski pitched into the sixth inning, St. John Bosco turned to its nearer, Jack Champlin, who was magnificent. In 4 scoreless innings, he gave up one hit with 4 strikeouts. At one level, a Santa Margarita batter appeared to problem Champlin after the rely went to 3-0. Champlin struck him out, unleashing a fist pump.
St. John Bosco ended up being probably the most constant staff within the Southland for the 2025 season. The Braves went 27-4 and have become the primary Trinity League champion to win a Division 1 title. All the opposite Trinity League groups which have gained Division 1 by no means gained the league title. And beating top-seeded Corona 2-0 on Tuesday was fairly an accomplishment itself.
