South El Monte surged into the CIF Southern Section baseball finals after a commanding 3-0 victory over Norwalk, a performance anchored by Gabriel Canchola’s masterful two‑hit shutout.
Canchola, who also contributed at the plate, went 3 for 4 with two doubles and crossed the plate twice, while his four strikeouts sealed the Eagles’ pitching dominance.
Bobby Rojas added a timely RBI single in the first inning that drove in Canchola, and Isaac Piceno’s bases‑loaded walk in the second stretched the lead to 2‑0. Riley Leon’s two singles kept the offense moving.
The Eagles will meet North Torrance in the championship game, scheduled for either Friday or Saturday, looking to avenge a narrow defeat in the 2024 title match.
Championship Matchups Set
Meanwhile, Schurr fought back from a 2‑1 deficit to defeat Duarte 4‑2 in eight innings, with David Torres and Jacob Diaz each collecting two hits to fuel the rally.
The Spartans now await their opponent in the final, Rancho Alamitos, hoping to capture the program’s first CIF‑SS crown on the same Friday or Saturday slate.
Both teams are poised to bring their respective strengths — South El Monte’s pitching depth and Schurr’s resilient hitting — into a showdown that promises fireworks.