Santa Margarita outlasts Norco 1-0 in 12 innings and brings home second CIF championship

Santa Margarita’s baseball team celebrates after winning the CIF Division 2 title (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

LOS ANGELES – Saturday’s CIF Division 2 championship game at Dodger Stadium between Santa Margarita and Norco will long be remembered in the history books as a pitcher’s duel.

It was shame somebody had to lose.

The Eagles pushed across the game’s only run in the top of the 12^th inning to defeat the Cougars 1-0 and win the championship.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Jack Collins led off the 12th for Santa Margarita with a single to center. Michael Mira drilled a shot that went between the legs of third baseman Stewart Slessor for a two-base error and giving the Eagles runners on second and third with no outs. Aaron Lamont flied to center for the first out as and both runners held.

Milan Tolentino then hammered a deep drive to right that was caught for the second out but Collins tagged up on the play from third and scored on the play to give Santa Margarita a 1-0 lead.

Spencer Edwards, who came on with one out in the fifth inning, retired the side in order in the bottom of the 12^th to give the Eagles the win and their 2^nd CIF championship.

Edwards (2-1) pitched 6 2/3 innings of relief, gave up one hit and struck out six to get the win.

“It’s the longest relief appearance I’ve ever made and I can’t even describe how it feels; it’s so exciting,” said Edwards. “We were underdogs coming in here and we beat a lot of good team to get here. I believed in my ability and our defense kept us in the ball game.”

Santa Margarita coach Chris Malec said he is extremely proud of his team.

“This game was a testament to these young men and how hard they’ve worked this season; this was one of our goals,” said Malec. “Both teams played lights out baseball and our defense took care of the baseball. It’s a special feeling to watch these guys dog pile each other after winning this game.       

Starting Eagles pitchers Matthew McClure and the Cougars Michael Forbes were also in top form and put on quite a show on the hill as well.    

McClure pitched 5 1/3 innings and allowed five hits and didn’t allow a run. Forbes went eight innings, gave up six hits, struck out six and didn’t not allow a run as well but neither one would be involved in the decision.   

The Eagles (26-11) won their only CIF baseball title in 2014 after losing in the finals in 1995 and 2002. Santa Margarita entered the post season ranked No. 9 ranked team by the CIF Poll.     

“This is something I’ve dreamed about, winning a CIF championship,” said Eagles first baseman Trevor Clift, who caught the final out to seal the victory. “It’s the greatest feeling in the world.”  

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet,” Edwards added.

Both teams had scoring opportunities throughout the game but both starting pitchers survived multiple jams.  

McClure gave up a one out double in the first and a two out triple in the third inning but was able to escape both times without giving up a run. McClure also started a 1-6-3 double play on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Ryan Lamastra in the third inning.

The Eagles had a scoring opportunity in the second inning but came up empty. Colby Wallace singled to right with two outs and moved to second after Ethan Flanagan drew a base on balls.  However, Forbes got Jack Collins to hit into a force play to end the rally.

Connor Bane reached first with a one-out single in the fourth and advanced to second on a Trevor Clift infield ground out. Cougars second baseman Bryce Cermenelli then saved a run when he made an outstanding diving snag on a ball hit by Wallace to end the inning.

Flanagan led off the fifth inning by getting hit-by-a-pitch. Collins then singled to right center and was pinched run for by Riley Walters. Chance Ducote pinched hit but was unable to lay down a bunt and struck out for the first out of the inning.

Lamont followed by getting hit-by-a-pitch, however the home plate umpire ruled that it was a foul ball. Eagles coach Chris Malec appealed the call but to no avail. However, Lamont then showed the umpire his forearm where the ball struck him and was awarded first base to load the bases.

Forbes countered by getting Milan Tolentino to fly out to short left (and not letting the runners advance) for the second out and then he struck out Jonny Giannola to end the inning.   

A close call at second base nearly cost the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth. Justin Drury singled with one out and was pinched run by Parker Davis. Menelik Isreal then grounded back to Forbes who threw high to second, dragging shortstop Chris Conniff off the bag. Wisely, Conniff continued the play and threw to first to get Isreal for the second out. Davis was ruled safe at second despite Malec’s appeal.   

Santa Margarita had two runners on with two outs in the sixth but Forbes was once again up to the challenge as he got Collins to fly to center to end the inning.

The Eagles got some crucial relief from Spencer Edwards to hold off a Norco scoring threat in the sixth.

Cermenelli led off the bottom of the sixth with a double to right center. Chris Conniff then walked. Stewart Slessor grounded to third baseman Michael Mira who fielded the ball and tagged out Cermenelli (who was advancing to third) for the first out but his throw to first was too late to get Slessor. Forbes walked to load the bases.

Edwards then entered the game in relief of McClure and struck out Maxwell Davis and retired Elias Pacheco on a grounder to short to end the Cougars rally.

Delgado came on in relief of Forbes to start the bottom of the ninth. In the 10^th inning, he walked Bane. Bane was sacrificed to second by Trevor Clift but Conniff (Norco’s shortstop) jumped high in the air to make run-saving back-to-back catches on line drives hit by Wallace and Flanagan.

After starting the Trinity League play at 0-4 season and dropping its last three league games, the Eagles qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. Nevertheless, Santa Margarita rolled on and defeated Kaiser, Tahquitz, Damien, El Segundo and Redondo Union to reach the finals.

Norco (20-12) finished second in the Big VIII League and is currently ranked No 10 in D2 according to the CIF-SS poll. The Cougars were attempting to win its first CIF baseball title in school history. Norco last appeared in the finals in 1984.  The Cougars defeated Don Lugo, St. Bonaventure, Villa Park and Crescenta Valley to reach the final.

Collins and Bane each had two hits apiece for the Eagles. Martin Delgado (2-4), who came on in relief in the ninth inning and threw four innings excellent baseball took the loss.

-Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone