MidValleySports.Com

By Tim Peterson

(Arcadia) – Matt Manzo drove a pitch into the gap in left-center field with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning to score Jordan Vogel and give Arcadia a 3-2 win over Simi Valley Friday at Arcadia. With the victory the Apaches advanced to the second round CIF Division 3 playoffs.

Simi Valley got on the board first when Evan Rodriguez hit the first pitch of the game off of Arcadia starter Damian Catano for a home run to left field.

The Apaches responded in the second inning with two to grab the lead. Tyler Brereton walked and with one out Aiden Soto tripled down the right field line to drive him in. Julian Slamon followed with a base hit to left to give the Apaches a 2-1 lead.

The score stayed that way until the sixth when a little bit of controversy unfolded. In the top of the fifth with Rodriguez at the plate for Simi Valley, Devin Medina attempted to steal second. He appeared to be safe but Rodriguez was called for batter’s interference for the third out to end the inning.

With the score still 2-1 in the top of the sixth Rodriguez led off the inning and hit his second home run of the game to tie it at two. But because he was third out of the previous inning on batter’s interference he was batting out of order and was ruled out nullifying the home run. Arcadia Coach Nick Lemas was aware of it and informed the umpire.

“We had the same situation happen against Torrance. The umpire told me we had to wait for the at bat to be over,” Lemas said. “So we saw it and it was 3-1 (count) but we felt like he was going to be called out so we threw him another cookie and the guy hit another one out. It sucks for him to have that moment taken away but that’s the way it goes sometimes.”

The Pioneers were able to push one across in the seventh to get even. Liam Barkwill led off the inning with a single off of Isaiah Spencer who had come on in relief of Catano. Barkwill stole second and with two out Rodriguez was walked intentionally. Both runners moved up on a passed ball and Ryan Whitson followed with a high hopper to short that was misplayed allowing Barkwill to score and tie it at two.

This set the stage for Manzo’s heroics in the bottom of the inning as the Apaches walked it off.

Catano went six innings for Arcadia before Spencer came on. He allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out seven.

“He had has best stuff, it didn’t seem like his velocity was quite there but he definitely competed and did a really good job.” Lemas said of Catano.

Kyle Casey went three and 2/3 innings for Simi Valley before giving way to Jackson Plagenza who went the rest of the way.

“First round is always tough. Proud of these boys. Nerves are at a high level and to come out of here with a win is big. He (Manzo) has been clutch all year. He’s been a really tough out. Even when he makes an out he barrels balls pretty regularly. He’s a really tough kid and loves those moments.”

Apaches now move on to Round Two.

SV 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2

AR 0 2 0 0 0 0 1 3