Santa Margarita burst onto the playoff scene with a 19‑1 rout of Rancho Christian, a game that featured eight home runs and a three‑bagger from Andre Owens. The Eagles’ offense was fueled by a barrage of long balls, and Logan Schmidt added a strong outing on the mound while contributing at the plate.
Key Performances
Elsewhere, Elsinore pulled off a 3‑2 upset over top‑seeded Villa Park, capitalizing on a late RBI single, and Ganesha edged Linfield Christian 2‑1 after Logan Schmidt’s two‑run blast and seven scoreless innings. Brayden Dominguez contributed two doubles for Great Oak in a 10‑5 victory, and Carter Hadnot launched a homer for Aquinas in a narrow win.
South Hills posted a 2‑0 shutout of San Clemente, showcasing a combined effort that highlighted the league’s defensive depth, while Newport Harbor’s 15‑1 demolition of Trabuco Hills saw Henry Mann continue his hot streak at the plate. Great Oak’s 10‑5 win over Valley View was anchored by Dominguez’s two doubles, and Aquinas edged Dana Hills 3‑2 on a bases‑loaded walk, with Hadnot’s homer providing the margin.
Loyola’s 18‑0 drubbing of Yorba Linda featured Matthew Favela’s three hits, and Westlake’s 4‑3 triumph over Alta Loma included Blake Miller’s solo homer. In the City Section, Birmingham advanced with a 5‑1 win over Banning, while Sotomayor edged Westchester 3‑2 behind Albert Chavez’s 13 strikeouts.
Other notable names in the action included Tyler Willeford, Gabriel Guerrero, Gavin Loeb‑Keene, Chris Alzaga, Bryce Morrison, Jaden Liu, Dustin Dunwoody, Austin Maiden, Noel Barrientos, Mikey Martinez, Brody Thompson, Sheriff Hall, Nate Avalos, Carlos Acuna, JJ Rodriguez.