Norco High School's baseball squad secured a spot in the Division 1 quarterfinals after a convincing 9‑2 victory over Ayala on Tuesday.
A decisive win fuels momentum
The game opened with a four‑run third inning that flipped the early lead, and the team added a five‑run seventh to pull away.
Jacob Melendez delivered a solid outing, tossing seven innings and allowing just seven hits while striking out two and walking three.
Pitching duel highlights
Ayala’s Caleb Trugman kept the Norco bats in check for 5 ⅔ innings, fanning six batters and issuing no walks before the offense broke loose.
Norco will next travel to face the winner of Pool D, Orange Lutheran, on Friday as they look to extend their season.
Coach Gary Parcell praised the team’s hitting, noting the timely extra‑base hits that sparked the rally.
Brad McGuire, Ayala’s manager, said the loss offers a learning opportunity for his young club.