Loara baseball team gearing up for league showdown with Rancho Alamitos Tuesday

Loara, shown after a game earlier this season, plays Rancho Alamitos twice this week (File photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Loara’s baseball team is gearing up for a big series this week that will determine the Garden Grove League championship.

League leading Loara faces Rancho Alamitos Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Rancho Alamitos and Thursday at Loara in 3 p.m. games.

Loara (15-8, 13-0) has a one game lead over Rancho Alamitos (15-6, 12-1) so the Saxons can clinch the title with a win Tuesday.

“The two games coming up with rancho are really big games,” said Loara Coach Shaun Hill. “Nothing better to be playing for the title on the last week of the season. It’s why you play. I’m very proud of my boys of how hard they worked this year.

“They deserve to be in this situation. But we know these are going to be the hardest games of the year. Rancho is coached very well. Coach (Greg) Pines does a great job. They have good pitching so do we should be some exciting baseball to watch.”

Loara remained perfect in league play defeating Santiago on Tuesday 16-0. Patrick Monroe started on the mound and pitched a perfect four innings striking out seven.

Ryan Judd then came on and threw three innings with two strikeouts and the only runner that reached was on an error. Jacob Mendoza threw him out at second base on a steal attempt.

“We faced the minimum for a no-hitter,” Hill said.

“Offensively Jose Saldana had a great day . He went 4 for 5 with six RBI and two doubles . Monroe went 3 for 3 with three RBI, three runs scored and two walks.”

Loara defeated Santiago 22-5 on Friday in five innings. Matt Blackney got the start on the mound throwing two innings. Saldana was 4 for 4 with three RBI and Blackney was 4 for 5 with a home run (his third of the year).

Mendoza was 3 for 6 with a grand slam, his third home run of the year.

Rancho Alamitos kept pace with Loara defeating La Quinta 8-1 and 4-2.

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