Castaic, Calabasas, Westlake baseball win CIF State SoCal Regional titles

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CASTAIC — An improbable season ended in improbable fashion on Saturday in the CIF State Southern California Division V Regional baseball final between Castaic and Ganesha.

The Coyotes and Giants alternated leads throughout the first seven innings, with the game needing two extra innings to declare a winner.

Ganesha pulled ahead 6-5 in the top of the ninth inning, but found itself in a quandary in the bottom of the inning with Castaic loading the bases with zero outs.

After a strikeout, Castaic’s Tyler Hawn hit a grounder back to the pitcher, allowing Ganesha to throw out the runner at home. But a throw from home to first base that could have equated in a game-ending double play instead went past the first baseman, allowing Castaic to score two runs to seal the victory 7-6 over previously undefeated Ganesha.

“When I saw the ball squirt away from the first baseman, my heart just dropped and I was like, ‘Run,’” Castaic head coach Darrell Davis said. “We did something that is unheard of. I never dreamed that we’d be doing this.”

“We get a grounder back to the pitcher, get the out at the plate and we have to rush the throw to first and threw it away,” Ganesha head coach Tony Green said. “I thought for a second there we were gonna get out of this, but it didn’t bounce our way. Our guys gave us a chance, most teams would tap, but these guys didn’t stop one time.”

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off a stand up RBI-double by Noah Alvarez, sending leadoff hitter Bryce McAnich, who started the game with a base hit, across home plate.

Castaic pitcher Kyler Freude shook off the two-hit first inning and struck out the next four batters he faced. Freude finished with six strikeouts through seven innings.

The Coyotes’ offense took over in the third inning with three consecutive hits by David Cailotto, Matthew Airhart and Anthony Luna. Cailotto scored on Luna’s single, and two batters later Aaron Gonzalez scored Airhart with a double to give his team a 2-1 advantage.

Castaic kept the pressure on in the fourth inning, scoring three more runs to take a comfortable 5-2 lead.

But the comfort didn’t last long, as the Giants chipped away by scoring their third run in the fifth inning, before eventually tying the game 5-5 in the seventh.

The Giants were knocking on the door in the eighth inning with two runners on base, but a diving catch by Airhart in left field prevented Ganesha’s Gabriel Smith from putting his team ahead.

“Most of it is instinct,” Airhart said about his potential game-saving catch. “I missed the one earlier so I had to show up again and prove myself.”

In the ninth inning, it was the combo of Alvarez and McAnich repeating what they did in the first inning, a single by McAnich and an RBI-double to put Ganesha ahead by a run.

Here’s how Castaic scored the final two runs to beat Ganesha 7-6 and win the Division V regional title in extra innings.

Pandemonium. pic.twitter.com/sExfqk8ILe

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) June 4, 2023

But the battle-tested Coyotes didn’t let the pressure overwhelm them, getting on base with a bunt by Airhart, a walk for Anthony Luna and a bunt by Joji Sakata to put themselves in prime position to earn the victory.

After the grounder by Hawn went straight to pitcher Jorge Solares, he threw to home for the out and Ganesha catcher Isaiah Ibarra tried to close the game with the double play, but just missed on his throw to first base, allowing Luna and Sakata to score.

“Time seemed to freeze in place,” Luna said about crossing the plate during the chaotic finish. “It’s hard to believe it. Were able to do it together as one, as a family.”

The win capped off an unlikely year for Castaic, who just wrapped only its second varsity season.

The Coyotes also won the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship, putting up a whopping 51 runs in six games during its sectional playoff run. The seven runs put up against Ganesha equaled half of the runs the Giants allowed in its previous 20 games combined.

“There were a lot of doubters. A lot of people doubting that we’d even have a chance to get in the playoffs in a very tough league,” Davis said. “To win a CIF title but then to win this, I think we’re the first team ever in Santa Clarita to win a regional state championship.”

“This sets a legacy. It shows the younger guys and the future of the program a role model,” Luna said. “It’s possible to defeat the odds and prove everybody wrong.”

In other CIF SoCal Regional finals Saturday:

Calabasas 1, Santana 0 (8 innings): Jordan Kingston threw three innings and Luc Olson threw five as they combined for seven strikeouts and a shutout to win the Division II regional crown in Santee. Tyler Shuman delivered the game-winning hit in the eighth inning to score Matthew Witkow. UCLA commit Phoenix Call was 1 for 1 and walked three times.

Calabasas finishes the season 25-10.

The last out. Calabasas celebrates its Division II regional crown after downing Santana on the road 1-0 in eight innings. pic.twitter.com/OC4rsxjeil

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) June 4, 2023

Westlake 3, Bakersfield Christian 2: The Warriors won the Division III regional title with help from the clutch pitching of Nate Johnson, who earned the save by recording the last three outs. Ethan Bolger went 2 for 3 at the plate with an RBI.

Westlake finishes the season 23-12 after placing fourth in the Marmonte League and earning an at-large berth to the CIF Southern Section playoffs.

The final out. Westlake baseball wins the Division III SoCal regional championship 3-2 at Bakersfield Christian.

The dog pile ensues. Westlake was an at-large berth to the sectional playoffs, now they’re regional champs. pic.twitter.com/xdTZ8dMk5l

— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) June 4, 2023

SOFTBALL

Poway 1, Oaks Christian 0: The Lions fell in the Division I regional final as they were shut out for the first time all year.

The lone run came in third inning when Poway’s Miah Garcia hit a double to score Hailey Burns with two outs. Emelia Davis pitched six innings for Oaks Christian, allowing just three hits and striking out seven. The Lions finish 30-3-1under new coach Cheyenne Coyle, who took over for softball coaching legend Pete Ackermann. Ackermann passed away in December of 2022.

Madison 11, Verdugo Hills 3: The Dons lost in the CIF SoCal Division V final at home. Verdugo Hills (17-9) won the City Section Division II championship this season.

—Tarek Fattal