Poway Baseball Wins Play-In Game, Now Faces Vista

It was the North vs. the South in a CIF San Diego Section Division I baseball play-in game Tuesday, and like in the Civil War, the North prevailed.

Poway visited South Bay League champion San Ysidro, which had gone undefeated in league play this year on its way to its second league title in three years.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, they ran into a Poway  program that is clicking on all cylinders. The Titans were in control throughout the game, moving on to the first round of double-elimination play with a 6-1 victory.

After manufacturing a run in the second, Connor Joe gave the Titans (22-8) a little breathing room in the third with a deep shot over the center field wall for his seventh home run of the year, making it 2-0 Poway.

Next inning, the Titans added on in a big way.

Chad Smith’s sac fly scored Devin Dooney, Nick Sharpe came up with another RBI, then Ryan Moreno smacked a two-run home run deep to left-center for his third long ball on the season. The Titans suddenly were up 6-0 and never looked back.

Starting pitcher Taylor Miller got the win for the Titans, holding the Cougars to just one run on one hit with two strikeouts in six innings of work. Then Evan Richards came in to shut the door on San Ysidro (19-10-1), striking out two in the seventh.

“It feels great knowing we're that much closer to playing Saturday night (June 4) at Tony Gywnn Stadium,” said Miller. “If we play the way we are, no one can beat us.”

In the next round the Titans are going to be short-handed. In the final inning, Moreno was tossed from the game after failing to slide into home plate and running into the San Ysidro catcher.

There were some tense moments as the benches cleared, but cooler heads prevailed as both teams returned to their dugouts for the duration of the game.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” said Moreno, who went 1-for-3 with two RBIs. “Nothing I can do now but be supportive of my team and be ready to go on Friday if we win.”

Which will be easier said then done, as the Titans head over to Vista High (25-5) on Wednesday to play a talented Panthers team that finished second in the Avocado-East League.

“We’re capable of beating anyone,” said Poway coach Bob Parry. “(Vista) is a solid fundamental team, as well. It’s always a battle against them, but whoever has the better fundamentals will win.”

With a win over Vista, the Titans will likely end up facing off against nearby rival Rancho Bernardo  in a rematch of last year’s CIF final that RB went on to win. 

However, this year the Titans have other plans in mind for which team will bring home the CIF crown.

“It means everything to us,” said Joe, who was on the 2009 team that won the CIF title. “Everything in the past doesn’t matter, at this point our only focus is CIF.”