Orange Lutheran and Norco Shine in Championship Showdown at the Boras Classic
Championship Showdown at Boras Classic South
The championship game of the Boras Classic South is set for Friday at 6 p.m. at Mater Dei, featuring a high-stakes matchup between No. 2 Orange Lutheran and No. 3 Norco. This contest carries significant implications, as the top ranking in high school baseball hangs in the balance.
In Thursday’s semifinals, both teams demonstrated their dominance. Norco triumphed over Mater Dei with an 11-5 victory, powered by Jacob Melendez, who struck out seven batters over 6⅓ innings. Zion Martinez contributed significantly with a home run, a double, and three RBIs, while Codey Brown added two hits. Notably, both players became eligible to compete on March 27 following the end of the transfer sit-out period.
Orange Lutheran secured their spot in the final by defeating Aquinas 8-0. Pitcher Gary Morse struck out five in four innings, and Eli Phillips followed with three scoreless innings to seal the win. Hamilton Friedberg highlighted the offensive effort with two hits and five RBIs.
In related games, Huntington Beach edged out Corona 2-1, thanks to a walk-off RBI double from Dane Cunningham. Ely Mason had a standout performance, going four for four, while Tyler Ebel also made four hits for Corona.
St. John Bosco rebounded from a three-game slump with a decisive 10-0 win over Corona Centennial, marking a turning point for the team as Jack Champlin and Jaden Jackson each hit home runs.
Other notable games included Ayala’s impressive 10-0 victory over Los Osos, where Caleb Trugman struck out 12 batters without a walk, and Fountain Valley’s 6-2 win against Arcadia, facilitated by Andrew Harviston’s complete game.
In softball action, Orange Lutheran shut out St. Bonaventure 3-0, highlighted by Rylee Silva, who struck out 11 batters. Meanwhile, Etiwanda defeated JSerra 8-5, driven by Dailynn Battee’s strong performance, which included a home run, a double, and two RBIs.
As the championship approaches, the excitement surrounding high school baseball in Southern California continues to build, leaving fans eager for the outcome of this prestigious matchup.
