MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(South El Monte) – South El Monte fell behind 4-0 in the first inning and could never recover in a 7-1 loss to North Torrance in the CIF Division 7 Final Saturday at Goodwin Field on the campus of Cal State Fullerton.

The Aguilas were no hit through the first five innings before Gabriel Canchola doubled to lead off the sixth. That led to their only run when with one out Bobby Rojas doubled him home. That made the score 7-1 North Torrance and it ended that way.

North Torrance starter Mason Matsumoto left the game after Rojas doubled having allowed just one run and two hits. He struck out seven and walked three.

The Saxons jumped on South early. Josiah Reed walked and Andrew Bello doubled him home. Lucas Blackwood singled in Bello and later in the inning Shane Yamamoto drove in Sei Nagashim who had walked. Tanner Okawa walked to force in Alex Cannon who reached on a fielder’s choice. South El Monte was fortunate to get out of the inning down only 4-0 as North Torrance left the bases loaded.

Anthony Mata relieved the South El Monte starter after just four batters.

North added one in the third on a run-scoring base hit by Blackwood who drive in Yamamoto. Three hits and a walk led to another un in the fourth inning as Yamamoto plated Nagashima with a single.

Reed scored in the fifth on an infield single, a stolen base, a balk and a wild pitch.

Meanwhile Matsumoto was sailing along as he retired the Aguilas in order in the second fourth and fifth innings before running into a little trouble in the sixth.

South El Monte finished the season with an overall record of 22-13 and tied for the Mission Valley League title with Arroyo at 9-3. It was the Aguilas third consecutive MVL crown.

North Torrance, the CIF Division 7 champions, had an overall record of 20-16.

“It’s hard to win a game getting only two hits. That guy (Matsumoto) was good in the zone. I tip my hat to him,” said South El Monte coach Michael Gonzales. “But It’s a great opportunity to highlight the school and what we do as coaches to get these kids here. It’s an awesome moment. I wish for these boys that we could have came out on top. But that’s baseball and that’s life and we try to teach life lessons.”

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