JSerra Roars Last in Title Game of Anaheim Lions Baseball Tournament

Tremendous pitching put JSerra in position to play in the championship game of the 37th annual Anaheim Lions Baseball Tournament. But it was the Lions' senior-laden batting lineup that earned them the trophy on Wednesday night.

JSerra rallied to dig itself out of a four-run hole against El Toro in the final matchup of the 58-team tournament. Senior outfielder Clay Williamson sent a streaming line drive up the middle of the Chargers infield for a two-run single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the finishing touches on a gutsy 5-4 comeback victory.

Each team entered the clash playing its best baseball of the season. El Toro (11-5) had won eight of nine contests, while JSerra (14-3) brought a six-game win streak into Wednesday’s game at Glover Stadium in Anaheim.

The Chargers initially appeared to have more momentum on their side. El Toro batted around against Lions starting pitcher Keaton Siomkin in the top of the first inning.

Senior shortstop Matt Chapman set the tone for a patient Chargers attack at the plate by working a seven-pitch walk in the leadoff spot, which El Toro followed with two consecutive bunts. Sophomore Dan James dropped the first toward third base for an infield single before designated hitter Gavin Collins laid down a perfect slow-rolling sacrifice that pushed Chapman and James into scoring position.

Cleanup hitter Mitchell Tolman sent a two-strike pitch past sprawling Lions second baseman Grant Davis to deliver the first two runs of the game. Tolman stretched the soft liner into a double with heady base-running. After yet another bunt single, this one off the bat of outfielder Ryan Joyce,  first baseman Daniel Conmy brought Tolman home with an infield ground out. 

“We’re a team that likes to get runners on, move them over and  get them in,” El Toro coach Mike Gonzales said. “We executed early, put some pressure on the defense and put our players in a good position.”

El Toro could’ve blown things open after consecutive walks loaded the bases with two outs, but Siomkin blew a fast ball by Chargers catcher Sean Nearhoof to stop the bleeding at 3-0. The senior right-hander settled in nicely after a shaky first trip through the batting order, surrendering just four more hits while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings on the mound.

"It was big for Keaton to battle after that tough start," JSerra coach Brett Kay said. "He doesn't let things bother him and that has always been his demeanor. El Toro could've buried us, but Keaton kept his composure. That's what you expect from your senior starter.”

The Chargers only other run against Siomkin came in the fourth inning. Chapman played catalyst once again, slapping a one-out triple down the left-field line on the first pitch he received. James pushed El Toro’s advantage to 4-0 with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Chargers pitcher Ryan Kayoda wasn’t nearly as dominant as his tournament predecessors -- senior Garrett Mundell tossed a no-hitter on Monday and junior Tyler Brashears  followed it up with a 12-strikeout complete game on Tuesday -- but the sophomore turned in a very solid performance.

Kayoda comfortably cruised through four innings and faced only two batters over the minimum thanks to inning-ending double plays in each of the first two innings. However, JSerra’s balanced lineup eventually wore him down.

The Lions finally broke through in the fifth inning, which began with consecutive full-count walks to first baseman Nico Darras and outfielder Parker Johnson. USC-bound third baseman Trenty Boras followed the free passes with a double into the left-center gap, which scored pinch-runner Zach Sigler and sent Johnson to third base.

Junior Trevor Charpie, hitting out of the nine-hole, drove in Johnson with a slow roller to shortstop to cut the Charger lead to 4-2 with one out in the fifth. Two batters later, Grant Davis smacked his second single of the game into center field, sending Charpie across home plate and Kayoda to the dugout

The score remained 4-3 in favor of El Toro entering the game’s final frame. JSerra relief pitcher Bobby Hear impressed in 1 1/3 innings out of the bullpen to keep the Chargers from adding any insurance runs.

"I'm really pleased with our pitching as a whole," Kay said. "Everyone has settled into their roles. There's no doubt that our pitching was a big question mark coming into the season. Right now, it's a strength and the reason we were in this championship game."

Boras battled back from a 1-2 count to earn a lead-off walk in the seventh against El Toro reliever Rick Schafer.

"Boras has a huge at-bat with the leadoff walk," Kay said. "I though about bunting him over with Charpie but with Austin [Hedges] on deck I knew I just wasn’t going to do that.”

Charpie showed bunt before lining out to left field, but Hedges, the Lions’ All-American catcher continued to put his MLB-caliber skills on display at the plate. The senior lined a single to left to put runners on first and second for Davis, who also sent a single into left.

Davis’ hit was fielded quickly by Chargers left fielder Nick Villar, holding Boras at third base and bringing Williamson to the plate with the chance to play hero against newly inserted lefty reliever Brett Hammond.

“It’s bases loaded and you’ve got your three-hitter up, who happens to be one of the best players in the area,” Kay said.  “I liked our situation."

Williamson, a Cal State Fullerton commit, fouled off two excellent pitches with two strikes already against him. He straightened out his next swing and sent a hanging curve surging over second base and into center field, scoring both Boras and Hedges, who beat a decent throw to the plate.

“Clay had a heck of a battle up there,” Kay said. “He got jammed, fouled a tough pitch off and then was able to get a breaking ball and hammer it up the middle and send us home.”

Williamson was named tournament MVP shortly after the win, which gives JSerra seven straight victories.

“I’m proud of our performance in the tournament and I’ll give our guys the next few days to relax and get their energy back,” Kay said. “Now it’s time to move on and focus on taking care of what we needed to do in the Trinity League.”

The Lions are off until Tuesday, when the team hosts league rival Servite (8-8). JSerra can expect to move up in the Division 1 CIF Southern Section coaches’ poll, which currently ranks the team eighth overall.

El Toro returns to South Coat league action when it travels to Tesoro (4-9) on Monday. The Chargers have to be happy about their recent performance, despite having to settle for second place in Anaheim.

“I think it was a well-played game on both sides,” Gonzales said. “JSerra did a great job of battling back and being resilient, so I give them all the credit they deserve.”

Download the movie