The St. John Bosco baseball squad captured its second straight CIF‑Southern Section Division I championship on Saturday, defeating Norco 2‑0 in a tightly contested final.
A Pitcher's Masterclass
Senior right‑hander Julian Garcia delivered a masterful outing, fanning 14 batters while allowing only a first‑inning double. He closed the game by retiring the last 20 hitters, showcasing the resilience he honed after elbow surgery sidelined him for a season.
The victory marks a dramatic reversal of fortunes for a program that a year earlier finished under .500, a slump that had cast doubt on the team's direction.
Guiding the turnaround was Coach Andy Rojo, a former USA Baseball staffer who engineered a 30‑win 2023 campaign and instilled a fierce will to win across the roster.
Offensively, senior first baseman Moises Razo opened the scoring with a leadoff single in the fifth, and centerfielder Miles Clark followed with a sacrifice fly that brought home the first run. In the sixth, catcher Aaron Garcia was hit by a pitch, and third baseman Jack Champlin ripped a triple that plated the second tally.
Supporting Cast and Key Moments
Jordan Ayala, James Clark and Trey Kotsay contributed crucial defensive stops, while Noah Everly and Jaden Jackson added depth on the mound. Bench players Ty Daniels and Evan DePodesta provided steady glove work, and veterans Will Blanton, Troy Sibolboro, Hunter Harrington and Jhett Ohira helped maintain momentum throughout the game.
Looking Ahead
The championship not only adds to the school's storied history but also cements the reputations of its emerging stars. With a core that includes Julian Garcia, Andy Rojo's leadership and a pipeline of talent such as Jordan Ayala, James Clark and Trey Kotsay, St. John Bosco appears poised for continued success in the coming seasons.