Baseball: A big day for the Citrus Belt League
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You can say Friday was the day the Citrus Belt League earned respect. First, third-place Yucaipa, behind pitcher Taijuan Walker, defeated No. 2 seed Encino Crespi, 3-1. Walker allowed two hits.
Second-place Rialto knocked off Mission Hills Alemany, 2-0, with Julio Espinoza throwing a one-hitter. And league champion Redlands East Valley defeated Bellflower, 11-2. All were in Southern Section Division 2 first-round playoff game.
One upset was North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake defeating Santa Ana Foothill, 5-2. Joe Corrigan and Austin Wilson hit home runs for the Wolverines.
West Hills Chaminade defeated Paso Robles, 9-1. Brando Tessar and Mathew Troupe hit home runs. Lake Forest El Toro defeated Los Angeles Loyola, 5-3.
La Mirada defeated Rancho Cucamonga, 5-3. It was the Matadores’ 12th consecutive win. Mike Piazza had a two-run single and Kyle Harper got the win and the save.
Santa Barbara defeated Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos, 7-4. Trey Barrett hit a two-run home run and Danny Zandona threw a complete game.
In Division 4, Sonora defeated Ventura St. Bonaventurre, 4-3, on a RBI double by Austin Luis in the bottom of the seventh. Palm Desert defeated Laguna Beach, 17-5, with Ryan Garvey, the son of Dodger great Steve Garvey, getting two triples and three RBIs.
-- Eric Sondheimer