The Corona baseball team has one of the deepest pitching staffs in the entire nation. And that depth will be put to the test over the next two weeks, as the Panthers compete in the prestigious Boras Classic and National High School Invitational.
Freshman southpaw Mason Sims went the distance and fired a three-hitter in the first start of his high school career, as Corona pulled out a 2-1 victory over La Costa Canyon in a Boras Classic opener Tuesday afternoon at JSerra High School.
Sims allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, as Ryan DeMartino singled in Wyatt McClory with two outs.
Corona (13-1) tied the score in the top of the third inning, when Anthony Murphy singled home Daniel Rivera with out out. The Panthers surged ahead during the fifth inning, when pinch-runner Drake Burkhart scored on a groundout by Brady Edel.
Sims retired the side in order four times, including the sixth and seventh innings. La Costa Canyon, which captured the San Diego Section’s Open Division championship last season, had the tying run on third base with two outs in the fifth inning, but Sims got Kalen Applefield to line out to Seth Hernandez in left field to end the threat. Sims struck out four and walked only one batter.
Cooper Walls tossed a four-hitter in a losing effort for La Costa Canyon, allowing two unearned runs while string out five batters.
Josh Springer had a pair of hits for Corona, which faces Aquinas in a second-round game Wednesday at 3 p.m. at JSerra.
MORENO SHINES FOR ETIWANDA
Sophomore Al Moreno Jr. tossed a one-hitter, as Etiwanda edged Carlsbad 1-0 in a Boras Classic opener Tuesday at JSerra.
Moreno walked four batters, including two in the top of the seventh inning. Carlsbad had the tying and go-ahead runs on the bases with two outs, but Moreno got Maddox Lara to pop out to second baseman Christian Eaton to seal the victory.
Etiwanda (5-10) scored the lone run in bottom of the fifth inning, when LJ Roellig scored on a groundout by Jaeden Toki.
Roellig, Servens and Eaton had two hits apiece for Etiwanda.
The Eagles will face Oaks Christian in the second round Wednesday at 6 p.m. at JSerra.
AQUINAS WINS IN EXTRA INNINGS
Gavin Egan scored the decisive run on a bunt single by Chase Davidson with one out in the top of the eighth inning, as Aquinas pulled out a 5-4 victory over South Hills in a Boras Classic opener Tuesday morning at JSerra High School.
Aquinas trailed 2-0 after four innings, but the Falcons scored three runs in the fifth to surge ahead. Landon Young got Aquinas on the board with an RBI single, and Chase Hadnot doubled in two more runs to give the Falcons (10-6) the lead.
South Hills regained the lead with two runs in the sixth inning, but Hadnot doubled in another run with one out in the seventh inning to level the score. Hadnot went 3 for 3 with a walk, while Young was 2 for 4 with a pair of stolen bases.
Jason Gerfers tossed 2 1/3 scoreless inning in relief, allowing only one hit, to earn the victory for the Falcons.
Aquinas will face Corona in a second-round game Wednesday at 3 p.m. at JSerra.
OTHER RESULTS FROM THE BORAS CLASSIC
Maranatha 5, San Dimas 4 — Gabe Barragan homered to lead off the top of the eighth inning, lifting Maranatha to victory in a Boras Classic opener at Mater Dei High School. Landon White and Ryan Castro had two hits apiece for San Dimas (14-3). Castro scored three runs, and Kody King knocked in two runs for the Saints. San Dimas will face Ganesha in a consolation game Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Mater Dei.
Huntington Beach 6, Ganesha 0 — Nathan Aceves and Andrew Berdelis combined on a two-hitter as Huntington Beach opened the Boras Classic with a win. Jared Grindlinger knocked in three runs for the Oilers. Bryce McAninch and Victor Garcia recorded the hits for Ganesha (9-2). Corey Cole tossed two scoreless innings of relief for the Giants and struck out four.
