La Habra players celebrate after retiring Elsinore in the early innings. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
La Habra High School’s baseball team made the made of its first trip to a CIF championship game Saturday on a warm day at Goodwin Field at Cal State Fullerton.
The Highlanders topped Elsinore 8-3 in the Division 6 final, much to the delight of a large contingent of La Habra fans.
CIF Commissioner Rob Wigod was on the field presenting La Habra Coach Jack Brooks and his players the championship trophy after the game. Wigod did not have a microphone as a power blackout that started in the sixth inning knocked out the use of the scoreboard and the public address system.
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Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone
Photo Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone
The Highlanders were jubilant as they accepted their trophy. La Habra (23-10) won behind the solid starting pitching of Josh Castillo, who pitched the first 6 2/3 innings to get the win.
The co-Freeway League pitcher of the year improved his record to 11-4. Elsinore, coached by Matt Mosiello, continued to battle until the end, scoring three runs in the seventh. Brooks then brought in his other ace, Matt Coats, the other league co-mvp pitcher, who was able to seal the win.
The game was scoreless through four innings before La Habra scored in the bottom of the fourth, cashing in on two errors. Peyton Lee drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.
La Habra added two runs in the fifth and four more in the seventh. The Highlanders defense was stellar. The team did not make an error while Elsinore (19-6) was victimized by six errors. It was also the first appearance in the finals for Elsinore.
The game started at 10 a.m. and as it finished temperatures were around 90 degrees. Fans were allowed to keep the baseballs hit into the stands and parking was free.
Related story with post-game interviews and more photos (click here).
(Tom Connolly contributed to this story; video by Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
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