PHOTOS: Crean Lutheran takes control early and tops Century 13-4 in CIF Division 5 playoff

Crean Lutheran left fielder Kanon Rabbitt touches home plate after hitting a two-run home run Thursday. (Photos courtesy John Luciano and Ted Rigoni, Crean Lutheran Shutterbugs)

Crean Lutheran’s bats came alive Thursday in the opening round of the CIF Division 5 baseball playoffs.

The Saints managed just one run in Tuesday’s 1-0 wild card playoff win over Rio Hondo Prep, but came out sizzling from the start Thursday on their way to a 13-4 victory over Century at Century.

Fourth-seeded Crean Lutheran moves on to the second round Tuesday at home against St. Anthony.

“They decided that since we could not hit at all Tuesday, they were going to hit today,” said Saints Coach Jake Haney. “I was really proud of our swings today, especially on the heels of the way we swung it Tuesday. Credit to the Rio Hondo Prep kid, he did a good job but I could tell with the way we swung the bat Tuesday we were kind of tense and today, I didn’t sense that at all.

“Our swings seemed more free and aggressive and you live with the results but at least our swings were super aggressive.”

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The Saints started fast. Darin Hahn reached on an error and Kanon Rabbitt blasted a two-run home run, his second of the year, well over the left field fence.

“I think it’s a big exhale to hit the home run in the first inning, it’s contagious,” Haney said.

Crean Lutheran wasn’t done in the first.

Min Sung Choo doubled and scored when Dominik Varela drove him in on a fielder’s choice to put the Saints ahead 3-0.

Crean Lutheran (22-10) added three more runs in the second inniing. Hahn and Rabbitt had RBI singles and Varela drove home two runs with a single to help the Saints jump to a 7-0 lead.

Century, the Orange League champion, scored a run in the second inning.

Jesus Garcia singled and Damian Flores doubled. Rene Olivares then drove home Garcia.

But Crean Lutheran added five more runs in the third inning, cashing in on four walks and a throwing error. George Manera drove home one run on a squeeze and Varela had an RBI single to make it 12-1.

Century (15-12) cashed in three walks, a hit batter and two wild pitches to score three runs in the sixth inning.

Manera (6-1) pitched the first four innings,striking out four and allowing three hits, to get the win for the Saints.

“He’s been so clutch for us all year,” Haney said. “He makes the big pitches at the right time. He was shaky at the beginning, but he picked us up.”

Tate Fitzgerald came on to pitch in the fifth, Luke Wallin relieved in the fifth, followed by Alex Iida in the sixth and James Derflnger in the seventh.

Rabbitt went 2 for 3 with three runs scored and three RBI. Shoo, who walked twice, was 2 for 2 with four runs scored and Valera was 3 for 4 with five RBI.

All but two Saints players got in the game as Haney brought in pinch-hitters in the late innings.

Now, the Saints can focus on the second round.

“We’re at home Tuesday, so that will be a good test,” Haney said. “It’s a little weird, we never had to play a wild card game so it feels like we’re pretty deep in the playoffs and that was round one.”

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