Fullerton falls behind early and drops CIF Division 1 playoff opener to Gahr

Fullerton and Gahr players exchange handshakes after the game. (Photos: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).

Fullerton High School’s season came to an end Friday in the opening round of the CIF Division 1 baseball playoffs.

Jake Ourique pitched six strong innings and Don Afemata’s two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth inning to help Gahr defeat Fullerton 5-2 at Fullerton.

The Gladiators (18-10) advance to the second round and will play Santa Margarita on Tuesday. The Indians, who won the Freeway League for the third consecutive season and who were attempting to win the school’s first ever Division 1 baseball playoff game, finished 18-10-1.

Ourique gave up two runs and six hits, struck out six and walked only one to earn his seventh victory of the season.

“I was struggling a bit at the beginning but then my slider and two seamer were working well,” said Ourique. “When we got a lead I started to get more of a lift and I had to keep it going. It’s my first CIF playoff win and I’m really excited.”

 AJ Gonzalez pitched the seventh inning and retired Fullerton in order to close out the game and secure the win.

“Jake is a competitor, he’s been consistent for us all year,” said Gahr Coach Gerardo Perez. “We know it’s the playoffs and anything can happen. Afemata had a big hit for us in the sixth inning that opened the game up. Defense has been a battle for us this season, but today we played good supportive defense and took care of the ball. We had several outstanding infield plays and our outfield played well. I don’t think we had an error.” 

Leading 2-1 after five innings, the Gladiators sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning and pushed across three runs to extend their lead to 5-1.

Oscar Grijalva walked to lead off the inning and was pinch run for by Chase Miller. Jose Eljaik drilled a single, his third hit of the game. Julian Lucero then bunted, but first baseman Malachi Meni’s throw to third was late and Gahr loaded the bases with no outs.

Afemata, pinch hitting, smoked a two-run double to left center that scored two runs and upped the Gladiators lead to 4-1. Gahr added another run on an infield out and the Gladiators led 5-1.

“I wasn’t nervous, I went through my pre-at bat routine and I was calm when I came up,” said the left handed hitting Afemata. “My coach told me the pitcher was mainly a fast ball pitcher and to look for something outside and ‘don’t miss it,’” Afemata said. “It’s such a great feeling to get a hit like that.”

Eljaik said the sixth inning was huge for his team.

“We’ve been grinding and we were confident,” said Eljaik, who aside from having three hits, scored two runs and had an RBI. “We were focused on this game, we had great energy and we are looking forward to moving on.”

Eljaik’s solo homer high over the left field fence gave Gahr a 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Meni blasted a solo shot to left in the sixth inning for Fullerton but the Indians weren’t able to mount any further comeback.

“It’s always tough when the season ends,” said Fullerton Coach Shaun Hill. “They had one big inning and a big clutch hit and they posted a crooked number and we didn’t. It was supposed to be a rebuilding season this year but we won our league for the third consecutive time and we made it to the CIF Division 1 playoffs. I’m proud of what our players did this season. We are looking forward to next season. We have a lot of guys coming back.”

DJ Garcia pounded out two doubles and scored a run to lead the Indians.

Despite the loss, senior starting pitcher Eddie Acitia remained proud.

“We had a good year and I’m proud that we won our league for the third year in a row,” said Acitia, who only gave up three hits over the first four frames before being relieved in the fifth inning. “For me this year I felt like I was able to show what I can do and I was able to throw more strikes consistently this season. My teammates and coaches made me a better player this year.”

Gahr finished second in the Gateway League behind La Mirada.  

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—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone