Local High School Baseball Teams Punches Tickets to Divisional Semifinal Matchups

LA PUENTE – It has been 39 years since the Nogales High School baseball team went as far as the semifinals in the playoffs. Head coach Don Montanez was a sophomore on that team in 1978 that eventually lost to Norwalk 4-3.

“This is our first year back in the Montview League and it feels like Deja vu,” Montanez said. “We just hope we can change the outcome.”

Nogales (27-2) moved to the Montview League this season after playing the past few seasons in the Valle Vista League against perennial powerhouse San Dimas and Northview. Nogales also changed leagues in 1978.

Johnathon Guardado had a two hitter, and brother Juan Guardado had the go-ahead hit to lead Nogales over Capistrano Valley Christian 3-1 in a Division 4 quarterfinal matchup Friday. Johnathon also had six strikeouts and Joe Robles, Mike Quijano and Chris Guardado each added two hits for the Nobles who will host top seed Tahquitz Tuesday.

Nogales drew first blood, as it took a quick 1-0 lead on a Sacrifice fly by Michael Landero

Andre Antone drove in Capistrano Valley Christian’s only run of the game in the fourth inning, which was also the first of two hits allowed by Johnathon.

Nogales then recaptured the lead in the fifth inning when Robles singled and then scored on a ground ball by Juan Guardado.

Robles then doubled in an insurance run in the sixth inning.

Johnathon knows that the team is making history, but he is downplaying it;

“To us, it’s just any other game,” he said. “We know we’re breaking history right now, but to us it’s just one game at a time. It’s just a game, so go out there, have fun and play hard.”

Capistrano Valley Christian ends its season at 22-9.

On the other side of town, the fourth seeded Walnut Mustang baseball team was handling its business in a Division 3 quarterfinal matchup against El Segundo, with Walnut prevailing 3-1.

Two years ago, the Mustangs defeated a heavily favored, then undefeated San Dimas Saints team to reach the Division 3 finals where they eventually lost to Redondo Union. A win Tuesday against seventh seed Paso Robles will give Walnut a second chance in three years at the school’s first CIF championship in baseball.

Walnut starting pitcher Jacob Garcia had five innings of one hit ball, and timely hitting culminating in a successful suicide squeeze highlight Friday afternoon’s game which also featured 5 El Segundo errors.

The Mustangs (23-9) had the momentum going, as Garcia would retire thirteen batters after giving up a first inning hit.

“I knew they were a great-hitting team so I just wanted to come out and show and do the best that I could,” Garcia said.

He also had five strikeouts as the Eagles could not muster any offense until the seventh inning when they were able to rally a run off reliever Brandon Gadoy.

“That was a stellar performance by (Garcia) and the squeeze was something,” fifth-year Walnut coach Paul Acosta said.

Walnut struck first as Gadoy would reach base on one of El Segundo errors and eventually scored on a successful suicide squeeze play by Franky Zammaripa. This was the second time in as many games that Walnut was able to successfully execute the suicide squeeze play.

“It really becomes special when you get to the quarters, and the semifinals is a real accomplishment.”

Photo by Raul Romero Jr, SCNG