The second round of the CIF Southern Section baseball playoffs delivered drama and stellar performances across various divisions, with local players stepping up under the pressure of the postseason. From come-from-behind victories to dominant pitching, these games had it all.
Division 1 HighlightsÂ
St. John Bosco rallied late to defeat Vista Murrieta 5-4 in a thrilling contest. The game saw stellar pitching from both teams and clutch hitting when it mattered most. Bosco junior Noah Everly delivered the decisive blow with a two-RBI double in the sixth inning, putting the Braves ahead for good. Sophomore pitcher Brayden Krakowski earned the win, holding the Broncos’ potent offense in check for 4 1/3 innings. Vista Murrieta’s Vaughn Neckar and Brady Luyben each launched solo home runs, but the Broncos couldn’t capitalize on late opportunities and fell just short.
Division 3 and 4 RecapÂ
Temecula Valley flexed its offensive might in a 9-3 victory over Great Oak. The Golden Bears’ bats were on fire, racking up 12 hits. Cole Jones turned in a perfect day at the plate, going 4-for-4, while Will Bandel drove in four runs with two timely hits. On the mound, Grayson Martin pitched four innings to earn the win, and Taden Krogsgaard shut the door in relief with three scoreless frames. Despite the loss, Great Oak’s Gavin Fien delivered a standout performance with a home run and two hits. In Division 4 action Murrieta Mesa’s Caleb Wagner scored once and drove in another run in their 9-3 loss to Saugas (16-13).
Division 5 ThrillsÂ
Liberty advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4 win over La Serna in a nail-biter. Senior catcher Austin Cholodenko drove in two runs with sacrifice flies, while junior Alex Arteaga added two hits and scored twice. The Bison capitalized on early errors to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning, but La Serna rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the fifth. Ultimately, Liberty’s pitching held strong as David Kirk recorded clutch outs with the bases loaded in the sixth. Liberty now turns its focus to a quarterfinal matchup against Elsinore, who earned a 5-3 win over Bishop Montgomery thanks to Andrew Jimenez’s two hits and a game-changing solo home run.
Division 9 DominanceÂ
Santa Rosa Academy shut out St. Jeanne de Lestonnac 11-0 in a commanding performance. Maxwell Dupree tossed a brilliant three-hitter, while Luke Hamilton provided the offensive fireworks with a home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Nate Bock went 4-for-5, adding two runs to the Rangers’ offensive output. Meanwhile, Nuview Bridge flexed its muscle with a dominant 16-0 win over Ojai Valley. Johnny Aguiluz pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out eight and scattering seven hits. Carson Lagor led the offense with two hits, three runs, and two RBIs as the Knights set up a quarterfinal clash against Santa Rosa Academy.
What’s NextÂ
With the quarterfinals set, the competition is only heating up. Local teams like Temecula Valley, Liberty, and Nuview Bridge carry the hopes of their communities as they pursue a CIF-SS title. Stay tuned for more updates as the playoffs continue to deliver action-packed games and unforgettable moments.
