Wilson Knocks Off Simi Valley, 2-0, Advances to CIF Semifinals

So, it's not really cool to tip your hand and say, yes, we'd rather play one team over another. But Wilson High's coaches and players couldn't resist wanting a rematch with Simi Valley.

Wilson High baseball took one more step toward winning the CIF Division 1 Championship as it dispatched Simi Valley, 2-0, Friday afternoon at Blair Field.  With the win, the Bruins punched its ticket to the semifinals for the first time since 2008, when Simi Valley defeated Wilson in the title game.

“It’s not even about revenge (for the loss in 2008),” Wilson coach Andy Hall said.  “Simi Valley came to play.  They are a very well-coached team; they let it all out. My hats to them, but I’m glad the right guy won it today.”

Wilson will face Esperanza Tuesday night at Blair Field in the CIF Division I semifinals. The Aztecs beat CIF-SS Division 1 defending champion Mater Dei, 5-1, on Friday in the quarterfinals.

Wilson High once again called on its ace, Chase Dejong, who responded with a complete game shutout, while allowing only three hits with four strikeouts and four walks.

 “Chase (Dejong) has been consistent all year long,” Hall said. “It’s like playing dial-a pitch where he can pitch a strike, then another almost a strike.  Heck we even had one that was supposed to be a ball, but was called a strike. It has come to a point where we sometimes allow him to call his own pitches.”

“My game plan was to try to make the batter beat me by forcing him to try to hit the fastball,” Dejong said.  “If he is unable to, then I won’t need to use the curve ball as much.”

“It’s a nice luxury to have a pitcher like him who can do what he does,” Hall added.

Wilson jumped on reliever Nick Vigo as the Bruins sent seven batters to the plate to score the only two runs of the game.

Solomon Williams would single.  Dejong would reach on a throwing error by the second baseman, advancing Williams to third. Williams will then score on Timmy Richard’s single.  Dejong would score on Matt Heavin’s single. Vigo would finally get out of the inning when Brett Harper would lined out to the third baseman, who doubled up Beau Belko.

Richards led the way for Wilson, going 3 of 3 with an RBI while Bobby Webb went 2 for 3. Williams, Belko, and Heavin each went 1 for 2.  Williams scored a run, and Heavin drove in a run.

“It’s the playoffs.” Dejong said.  “It’s an adrenalin rush.  That is why I love playing it.”

BOXSCORE

School Name

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Simi Valley

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

1

LB Wilson

0

0

0

2

0

0

x

2

10

0

WP –Chase Dejong  (7-0)                                                                                           LP – Nick Vigo