A lot of people didn’t think we were going to see him.” “They wanted to save him for the championship, at least we got to see him. 1’s no joke,” said Gonzalez, who credited his team for forcing the Conquerors to turn to Earman. “We planned it out in the playoffs so he’d have two starts, but we’d have him ready in any game to get us into the next one.”Įarman lived up to his numbers and reputation and quickly induced a slow grounder to third and struck out the next batter to end the inning and keep his team up four. “We were trying to save Earman for the last inning, but we just had to bring him in right there to get us out of that pinch,” said Desert Christian Coach Mark Salazar of his ace, who’d allowed just nine runs (three earned) in 70 1/3 innings coming into the game.
That’s when Desert Christian turned to Earman.
The Rebels’ threat mounted on an error and walk, which put the tying run at the plate with one out. “That’s just how it’s been this year, so I never thought we were out of it.” “Anything is really possible with this team, everyone is always stepping up to the plate this year, all the underclassmen and the seniors,” said Termini, who was one for one with three runs batted in. It took one swing of Karlsen Termini’s bat to put some real fear into the Conquerors, as the Flintridge Prep senior blasted a two-run homer over the left-field fence to pull his team within 7-3. Cole Pilar (two for three) gave the Rebels their first hit and run of the game with a single up the middle that scored the leadoff runner. Palmer, who took a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth, walked the first batter he saw in the frame.
While the Rebels couldn’t find a way to stop the bleeding, the Conquerors had a bona fide stopper when things turned south in ace pitcher Morgan Earman, who quickly ended Prep’s lone rally.Īfter jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the fourth, Desert Christian saw the home crowd and team get a shot of life after Flintridge Prep center fielder Daniel Enzminger cut down Conquerors starting pitcher Chris Palmer at the plate after a great block and tag by catcher Dylan Arya. Prep’s offensive woes were compounded by four errors on the defensive side. They deserve that seed because I think they’re probably the best ball club in our division.” “One through nine can hit and their pitching staff is great. “They’re well deserving of that seed, they’re a great team,” first-year Flintridge Prep Coach Guillermo Gonzalez said. The Rebels (18-9) had just three hits, while top-seeded Desert Christian (28-2) had six players with multi-hit games and 16 base knocks in total. Ultimately, Flintridge Prep just ran into a better team in the CIF Southern Section Division VI final-four game at the Glendale Sports Complex. PHOTOS: Flintridge Prep boys’ baseball loses semifinals against Desert Christian Academy That frame proved the only bright spot for the home team after four errors and slow-starting offense put it in a hole that proved too deep in a 12-4 loss to the Conquerors Tuesday. There was still hope for another miraculous Rebels comeback after a three-run bottom of the fourth inning. GLENDALE - In its first trip to a semifinal game since 1960, the Flintridge Prep baseball team ran into a buzz saw that was top-ranked Desert Christian Academy.