PHOTOS: Paul Grossman leads top-seeded Northwood to CIF playoff win over Loara

Northwood players (from left) Carter Liu, Paul Grossman and Koji Yoshimizu after the game. (PHOTOS: Jacob Ramos, For OC Sports Zone).

On the back of a dominant performance on the mound and at the plate by ace Paul Grossman, top-seeded Northwood defeated Loara 10-0 in Thursday’s first round CIF Division 5 playoff opener at Northwood.

Northwood rode Grossman, who is committed to pitch for USC in the fall, for five innings of shutout ball in which the senior struck out six Loara hitters and blanked an offense that averaged 10.6 runs per game in the regular season.

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Grossman fought a blister throughout his outing, but the pain escalated quick in the third inning when play stopped in order for Northwood staff to check on the Timberwolves’ ace. Grossman spoke to OC Sports Zone postgame about fighting the notorious pitchers’ injury all season and his outing in general.

“I’ve been dealing with some finger issues the last few weeks and, yeah, I’m just having to deal through it until the end of the season and let it heal [then],” Grossman said. “I really just competed in the strike zone and let my defense back me up. That was really important, and then bearing down when those runners are in scoring position, leaving them on base. That was key to bring the momentum to our side.”

Grossman also had a huge day at the plate for the Timberwolves. The senior had three RBI on the afternoon, going 3 for 4 with a pair of singles and a double.

In addition to Grossman, the Timberwolves’ offense got a major lift from Koji Yoshimizu out of the leadoff spot. Yoshimizu, a senior middle infielder, went 2 for 3 with a triple, single and three runs scored. 

Also starring on offense for Northwood was Carter Liu, who had three hits and three RBI of his own. Liu and Yoshimizu spoke about their offensive approach postgame.

“We competed every single pitch, we competed, and we just tried to win every single pitch, and when you do that and you want it more than the other guys, you get really good results and you get great success,” Yoshimizu said.

“Lately in batting practice, all our guys have been seeing the ball better,” Liu said. “We’ve refined our approach [and] worked towards the big part of the field. And I think that’s what built our success today.”

It was an offensive explosion for the Timberwolves, who hadn’t scored more than nine runs since April 11 against Portola. 

On the other side, the game was the end of a magical season for Loara (19-3). The Grove League champions went undefeated during league play in 2025, outscoring opponents 223-34 overall during the regular season. 

Despite the Saxons’ explosive offense, their bats went dry against Grossman and Garret Stevenson, who relieved Grossman and got the last six outs of the game for Northwood (13-15-1). Loara only recorded four hits on Thursday. Coach Todd Rolph talked about his team’s last game of the season.

“We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed it early when the game was tight. It started in the first inning,” Rolph said.

Loara carried no seniors for the 2024-2025 season and made a jump from CIF Division 7 to Division 5 in just one year. Rolph and his young squad understand the magnitude of their growth. 

When asked what his team needs to do to get over the hump in next year’s playoffs, junior Loara shortstop Cesar Ponce responded with confidence. 

“Just work harder, get better, and just prepare for a team like this next year and hope that we beat them. I’m excited we’re all gonna get stronger, physically, and mentally, like coach said. And we’re gonna get the job done next year,” Ponce said.

“We’re gonna keep working, and so we’re just gonna come out and compete. So if you play us [next year], you’re going to have to compete,” Rolph said when asked what his message for next year was.

Despite Northwood’s under .500 season overall record (13-15-1) the Timberwolves fared well in Pacific Coast League play, earning an 8-6 record and an automatic berth to CIF with their fourth place league finish. Northwood Coach Ben Owens offered thoughts on his program’s first ever CIF No. 1 seed.

“I put up our non-league schedule against anybody,” Owens said. “I think we’re ready for this type of atmosphere.
And [Northwood] kind of proved it out there today, which is really the grand scheme, we just trust ourselves more than who we are playing.”

The victory for the Timberwolves sets up a date with former Pacific Coast League rival Laguna Hills, which beat Tahquitz 6-2 on Thursday. The game will be Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. at Laguna Hills.

The story of the day was Grossman, and when asked what the plan was against Loara’s vaunted offense, Owens responded bluntly.

“Give the ball to Paul.”