By Aaron Castro
(Laverne) – Coming into the semi finals Bonita was the number one seed and had not been tested since its lone league loss to Los Altos at the end of April. Beckman entered as the number four seed and two seasons removed from a CIF Championship. When it was all said and done it was Beckman advancing to the Division 3 CIF Finals with an 8-2 win over the Bearcats Tuesday.
The first inning began promising for Bonita as both Justin Row and Robert Mier were hit by pitches from Beckman’s Chad Rieser. K.C. Huth stepped up with one out and popped up. Thomas Castro then blasted one to the outfield but the throw to the plate beat Row who was tagged out.
The Patriots’ Garrett Brown led off with a walk from Bonita hurler Adam McCreery. Ricky Navarro bunted him to second and Zack Rivera singled him home. Spencer Ludin hit a gapper to left center but Nolan Henley came up with it and gunned down Zack Rivera at home.
Will Barring led off the second inning with a home run to put Beckman up 2-0. Tyler Cook then singled to right but McCreery fanned Robert Solby. McCreery then walked the next two batters, and hitting Connor Deneen to load the bases but Ricky Navarro hit into a double play to end the inning.
In the third Henley led off for the Bearcats and singled to the left. Row walked but not before Henley was thrown out trying to steal. Mier doubled to left to score Row cutting the lead to one. Huth singled through shortstop Garrett Brown’s legs scoring Mier to even things at two.
The Patriots then broke it open with five in the bottom of the third. Coach John Knott handed the ball Brandon Murfett after 2 1/3 innings from McCreery. With the bases juiced Tyler Cook took Murfett’s first pitch for a grand slam putting Beckman up 6-2. Later in the inning, Brown doubled to plate Solby who had singled.
James Kaprielian came on to close it out for Beckman in the seventh inning with two runners on. Row struck out and Matt Gelalich grounded to first. Mier then grounded to third.
It was still a good run for Bonita. Knott has had the Bearcats in the playoffs all six years and led them to the Finals last year before reaching the Semis this year.
Beckman will face Pacific Coast League number two Woodbridge in the title game. The Patriots are 2-1 against Woodbridge this year. The first pitch will be at 4:30 pm Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
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