Quarterfinal Action Wraps Up
The recent quarterfinal round of the CIF Southern Section high school baseball playoffs concluded last week, delivering a slate of dramatic contests across all nine divisions.
With the bracket now narrowed, the tournament’s official account has opened voting for the High School on SI Southern California baseball player of the week, inviting fans to select from ten standout athletes who shone between May 18 and May 24.
Voting remains open until May 31 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, and the winner will be featured in next week’s Southern California High School Baseball Player of the Week post.
Last Week’s Champion Sets the Bar
Donovan Anthony of Agoura entered the spotlight last week after delivering a complete‑game shutout that featured 15 strikeouts and just two hits allowed, guiding the Chargers to a 4‑0 victory over Oakwood in the Division 3 first round.
His performance exemplifies the caliber of pitching that has defined this year’s playoffs, and his name now appears among the nominees for this week’s honor.
Notable Highlights Across the Divisions
Other memorable moments included Justin Kirchner of Harvard‑Westlake, who tossed six innings with five strikeouts while surrendering only one run in a 2‑1 win over Cypress in Division 1; Jack Murray of Loyola, whose three‑run homer in the seventh secured a 3‑0 triumph over Alemany in Division 2; and Caysen Sullivan of St. Francis, who struck out eight batters in six innings to lead St. Francis past Warren 3‑1 in Division 3.
Additional standouts featured Jordan Ayala of Norco, who threw a complete‑game gem with 10 strikeouts in a 3‑0 victory over Orange Lutheran; Owen Song of Irvine, who delivered a clutch RBI single to edge Cathedral 2‑1 in Division 5; and Parker Moore of Laguna Beach, who went 2‑for‑3 with two RBIs in a 6‑4 win over Moorpark in Division 4.
The competition also saw Quinn Minyard of Trinity Classical Academy notch a walk‑off single in the bottom of the seventh to defeat El Rancho 7‑6 in Division 6, while Tanner Okawa of North Torrance contributed two RBIs and two runs in a 10‑0 rout of Carpinteria in Division 7.
In Division 8, Arian Garcia Mendoza of Duarte went 3‑for‑5 with a double, a triple, three RBIs and a run, helping the Falcons down Nuview Bridge 7‑5, and Nikolaz Gonzalez of Temecula Prep went 4‑for‑4 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and three runs in a 6‑3 win over Santiago in Division 9.
These performances not only highlight individual brilliance but also underscore the depth of talent across Southern California’s high school baseball landscape, setting an exciting stage for the upcoming player‑of‑the‑week announcement.