Loara baseball team rallies for 3-2 victory in opening round of CIF Division 4 playoffs

Loara’s baseball team, shown after a game this season, captured its playoff opener (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Loara’s baseball team pulled off a rally to defeat El Rancho 3-2 in the opening round of the CIF Division 4 playoffs Friday at Loara.

Patrick Monroe pitched six innings and had 14 strikeouts for the Saxons, who move on to face St. Paul Tuesday in the second round at Loara.

The Saxons trailed 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

But Louis Banda led off the inning with a single and Jacob Mendoza was hit by a pitch. Matt Blackney flew out to center field and Monroe tripled off the right field wall to drive in two runs.

Then with two outs, Cody Sutton hit a ground ball to the third baseman, but a throwing error allowed a run to come in and gave the Saxons a 3-2 lead.

Matt Blackney pitched in the seventh inning and got two strikeouts to notch the save and complete the victory.

“It was a awesome playoff game to be a part of an exciting baseball game,” said Loara Coach Shaun Hill.

“It was good to finally get a CIF win after losing one-run ball games the last two years on the road . We had a packed house here today. Pat threw amazing and our kids never gave up even being down 2-0 after making a couple errors.”

Now, Loara gets ready for St. Paul.

“We know they’re very good one, of the best teams in our division,” Hill said “And it should be another great playoff game.”