Orange Lutheran Edges Out Gahr with a Dramatic Walk-Off Win at the Boras Classic
Boras Classic Sees Major Upsets as Semifinals Approach
In a week filled with surprises, the Boras Classic has delivered a series of unexpected outcomes. Notably, top-ranked St. John Bosco, along with No. 4 Corona and No. 6 Huntington Beach, all faced defeats in the opening round of this prestigious tournament. On Wednesday, No. 2 Orange Lutheran advanced to the semifinals thanks to a dramatic walk-off single by CJ Weinstein in the eighth inning, which secured a 2-1 victory over Gahr.
Weinstein’s performance was instrumental, contributing two hits and two RBIs. The decisive eighth inning began with Angel Gonzalez hitting a double and advancing to third on a sacrifice. Following a series of consecutive walks that loaded the bases, Weinstein delivered the winning hit. Gahr’s Jake Ourique showcased an impressive pitching display, striking out six without allowing any walks in seven innings.
Looking ahead, Orange Lutheran will compete against Aquinas on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the semifinals at JSerra. Aquinas secured its spot by narrowly defeating JSerra 5-4, despite a home run from Blake Bowen in the seventh inning. The other semifinal will feature Norco squaring off against Mater Dei.
In other notable results, Mater Dei edged Ayala 2-1, with Jordan Campbell pitching six strong innings and Sebastian Navarro recording two hits. Meanwhile, Norco dominated Los Osos 14-0, advancing to the semifinals with a mercy-rule victory. Codey Brown’s stellar performance included three hits and three RBIs, while Jacob Melendez added four RBIs and both Dylan Seward and Jordan Ayala contributed home runs. Ayala’s pitching also stood out, as he struck out nine batters.
Huntington Beach handed St. John Bosco its third consecutive loss with a 4-2 victory, characterized by Ely Mason’s three hits and Jared Grindlinger’s eight strikeouts over 4⅓ innings. Similarly, Corona narrowly defeated Arcadia 3-2, with Anthony Murphy and Trey Ebel contributing significant hits.
Newport Harbor triumphed over Corona Centennial 2-0, powered by a solo home run from Ryan Williams and an RBI double from Henry Mann. El Camino Real ended Cleveland’s nine-game winning streak with a 9-3 victory, highlighted by Jackson Sellz’s complete game, Shane Bogacz’s three hits and three RBIs, and Ryan Glassman’s strong contribution of two hits and two RBIs.
South Gate defeated Bell 7-3, adding an Eastern League defeat to Bell’s record. Joe Corona’s two hits and three RBIs were pivotal, while Ernesto Brenes secured a complete game victory. In other matchups, Granada Hills overwhelmed Chatsworth 12-1, Carson outpaced Gardena 15-4, and Garfield claimed an 8-1 victory over Legacy, with Nathan Gaytan hitting two home runs, propelling the Bulldogs to the top of the Eastern League standings.
Cypress showcased their offense in a 14-3 win against La Habra, featuring freshman Ivan Ortiz with four hits and three RBIs. Sierra Canyon dominated Warren 13-0, bolstered by home runs from Greyson Gullage and Fletcher Taylor.
Chaminade stamped a 7-0 victory over Santa Barbara, with Jackson Schroeder’s 11 strikeouts and Isaiah Hearn’s homer leading the way. Bishop Alemany also impressed with a 12-2 win against Nevada Centennial, as MJ Serrano tossed five shutout innings and both Brody Thompson and Chase Stevenson hit home runs. In a closely contested match, St. Francis edged St. Joseph 4-2, thanks to Daniel Izaguirre’s two hits and two RBIs, alongside a complete-game effort from Donovan Udell. Finally, Royal secured a thrilling 8-7 win over Moorpark with a walk-off hit by Isaiah Tillman in the ninth inning.
As the tournament progresses, the remaining teams will look to capitalize on these developments as they strive for the championship.
