Josh Speakes scattered six hits and struck out nine to put Temple City back into the CIF Finals for the second time in four years. (Photo by Doug Brown)
By Joe Torosian
(Monrovia)- For Temple City the fourth time was the charm. After losing to Monrovia three times this season, and going winless against the Wildcats all the way back to 2012, the Rams scored a 4-0 victory in the Division 5 semifinals Tuesday afternoon to advance to the CIF championship.
Southpaw Josh Speakes led the way going seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out nine on 106 pitches. Speakes frustrated Monrovia batters by moving the ball around in the strike zone and working out of early jams.
In the first inning Speakes stranded the Wildcats Juan Quinonez at third. In the second he left Ben Goettling and Zach Zepeda in scoring position. In the third Eric Herrera was stranded at second and Goettling was left at the same base in the sixth.
Temple City rallied in the second after Paul Kosanovich reached on an infield single and Ryan Lewis was hit by a pitch. Jake Legrand added an RBI single to score Kosanovich and a throwing error allowed Lewis to score.
The Rams added another run in the fifth on Chris Rabine’s single that scored Steve Aparicio. In the seventh Legrand drove Luke Halverson home with a base hit to center.
Speakes continued to grow stronger as the game went on. He faced four batters in the fourth, set the side down in order in the fifth, and, after getting out of a jam in the sixth, slammed the door shut with back to back strikeouts in the seventh to close the game.
For Monrovia submarine right hander Brian McConnell went six innings and struck out six. Before being pulled in the final inning he struck out the side in the sixth. Justin Rosedale relieved him in the seventh.
Temple City will face the winner of today’s game between Hemet and Woodcrest Christian at UC Riverside on Saturday at 7:PM.
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