Crean Lutheran captures league victory over Canyon to earn split in series

Crean Lutheran players before a game earlier this season. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Crean Lutheran High School’s baseball team earned a split of a North Hills League series with league-leading Canyon defeating the Comanches 6-1 Thursday afternoon at Crean Lutheran.

Crean Lutheran (16-8, 5-3) is in third place in the league and has a two-game series with second place La Habra (15-8, 5-2) next week.

Canyon (17-7, 8-2) defeated Crean Lutheran 11-9 on Tuesday in the opening game of the series.

“A really good response after a tough loss on Tuesday,” Crean Lutheran Coach Jake Haney said. “It all started on the mound with Ethan Chavez. He was in control the entire game and that gave us some time to get going on offense. We executed really well moving baserunners at the bottom of the lineup.”

Chavez allowed two hits in six innings, struck out five and walked one. Griffin Theetge pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out one.

Brady McKay was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, Ian McDermott was 2 for 4 with three RBI including a two-run single in the third inning and Blake Armstrong was 2 for 2 with two runs scored to lead the Saints. Dylan Maez was 1 for 4 with a run scored.

“Blake Armstrong had a big bunt in the third inning to get us going,” Haney said. “We had a lot of good swings and probably should have scored more than six runs. The win gives us a lot of momentum heading into next week against a tough La Habra team.”

Crean Lutheran outhit Canyon 9-2. Canyon made four errors.

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