Loara baseball team wins outright league title with 2-0 victory over Rancho Alamitos

Loara baseball players rush to the mound to congratulate pitcher Patrick Monroe Tuesday. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

It was worth the wait for the Loara baseball team.

The Saxons celebrated their first league title in five years, defeating Rancho Alamitos 2-0 in a Garden Grove League game at Rancho Alamitos Tuesday.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Loara (16-8, 14-0) extended its lead over second place Rancho Alamitos (15-7, 12-2) behind a strong pitching performance by Patrick Monroe, who went the distance striking out 10 and allowing just four hits.

“I couldn’t be happier for these guys, especially the seniors,” said Loara Coach Shaun Hill. “We have nine seniors and we’ve been talking about being league champs since their sophomore year because there is so much talent.

“We haven’t gotten it done. We finished second one year and third the other year. No one works harder, they deserve it.”

Rancho Alamitos pitcher Nathan Alarcan was also outstanding on the mound. He scattered eight hits and struck out 10.

But Loara was able to jump ahead with a run in the third inning. Nathan Gutierrez doubled and scored on a single by Jacob Mendoza.

Rancho Alamitos threatened in the fifth inning. Alberto Rodriguez and Juan Zazueta singled and advanced a base on a passed ball.

But Monroe was able to strike out the next two batters to end the most serious threat for Rancho Alamitos.

Loara added another run in the seventh inning. With one out, Louie Banda walked, stole second and scored on a double by Matt Blackney to put the Saxons ahead 2-0.

Monroe (8-1) then blanked Rancho Alamitos in the seventh.

“That’s big for us considering the last couple of years we had a hard time competing with the league we were in,” Monroe said. “We always came close, second place, third place and this year we just came around and won it.

“That was probably one of the best games I’ve ever pitched. The curve ball I had a hard time with today but in between innings I would work on it and make sure I was getting on top of it, so that started coming around.”

Hill has seen performances like this from Monroe before.

“That’s what he does, he’s a stud,” Hill said. “He’s been our guy for the last three years. If anyone was going to throw this game it was him and you knew he was going to throw strikes and we knew their guy was really good. Pat just threw amazing.”

Jose Saldana was 3 for 3 with a double for Loara and Alberto Rodriguez was 3 for 3 for Rancho Alamitos.

The two teams, who are both headed to the CIF playoffs, meet again Thursday in the regular season finale at Loara.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com