The Harbor Sailors entered the seventh inning with a 1‑0 lead, courtesy of Cameron Hatfield’s RBI double in the fifth. Pitcher Gavin Guy had been dominant, holding Ganesha to just two hits through six frames and striking out eight batters without issuing a walk.
Ganesha’s center fielder Logan Schmidt sparked the comeback with a leadoff single to right, and shortly thereafter Jeremiah Myers tied the game with a clutch single to center. The tension mounted as the bases became loaded, setting the stage for the decisive play.
With the count full, Ganesha’s batter was hit by a pitch from AJ Moreno, forcing in the winning run and completing a 2‑1 victory. Moreno, who had thrown 6 1/3 innings of solid baseball, praised Guy’s performance, noting that he "pounded the zone" throughout his outing.
Newport Harbor’s coach Josh Lee reflected on the loss with a focus on accountability and preparation, acknowledging that the team left runners on base in every inning but could not convert. His counterpart, Ganesha coach Jared Sandler, offered a succinct take: "Most games are not won. They're lost."
The Sailors finished the season with a 22‑10 record, having navigated a challenging schedule that included narrow defeats and hard‑fought wins. Their ability to get baserunners in all seven innings underscored their offensive persistence, even as they fell just short of the final.
Looking ahead, Ganesha will meet Loyola in the championship game, with the venue tentatively set for either Cal State Fullerton’s home field or LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga. The upcoming final promises another chapter in a season defined by resilience and dramatic finishes.