Josh Hahn of Huntington Beach fires a pitch Tuesday during the Boras Classic (Photos courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone).
In what could reasonably be described as a Pac-12 Future’s Game, La Mirada possible future USC Trojan Jared Jones won a duel with Huntington Beach possible future UCLA Bruin Josh Hahn 2-1 in a first-round baseball game in the Boras Baseball Classic at Mater Dei Tuesday night.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
Adding to the Future’s Game theme, La Mirada catcher Darius Perry, who could be a Hahn teammate at UCLA next year, had two singles, including one with two out in the fifth that drove in Jones with the eventual winning run.
All of the players are expected to be candidates in the Major League Draft. Jones is a junior and would be eligible next year.
Jones’ performance was remarkable featuring a 96-miles per hour fastball, 115 pitches and eight strikeouts, but it was not without its drama.
Huntington Beach (10-3) and ranked fifth in the nation and fourth in the CIF Division 1 rankings, loaded the bases with no outs in the second, but Jones managed to escape serious damage, allowing only one run on a sacrifice fly, a play in which the La Mirada center and left fielders collided.
Hahn pitched as advertised and was in control into the fifth when Caleb Jung singled in the infield with two out. Jones was next and he lobbed his second hit of the night down the right field line.
When the Oiler right fielder, bobbled the ball for a moment, a pinch runner for Jung scored the tying run and Jones beat the throw to second.
Perry then followed with his second high of the night, a single to center, Jones scoring easily.
Jones walked an Oiler batter with two out in the seventh, on his 115th pitch, and Jacob Sharp came in to get the final out, striking out Hahn.
The Huntington Beach loss set up a noon match-up today between two of Orange County’s best teams, the Oilers and Cypress, which lost to Mira Costa 6-2 earlier Tuesday. The teams play at noon at Mater Dei.
La Mirada, which was ranked No. 5 in this week’s CIF Division 1 poll and Mira Costa play at 6 p.m. in a winners’ bracket game. Mira Costa is scheduled to start Jared Karros, the son of former Dodger first baseman, and a UCLA signee.
-Courtesy Jim McCormack, For OC Sports Zone
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