Southern California Christian’s Luck Runs Out in Division VI Semifinal

Colton Christian Center Academy Coach John Fiorito, an eye toward Friday’s Division VI championship baseball game, gambled by starting his No. 2 pitcher Tuesday.

J.P. Smith gave up four hits over six innings, did not allow an earned run and his teammates pounded 10 hits as the Warriors beat Southern California Christian, 7-1, at Anaheim High.

Smith (3-0) struck out two, walked two and lowered his earned-run average to 1.14. Staff ace Jason Fuerte (10-5) worked his 75th inning of the year in the seventh inning, setting the Flames down in order.

Christian Center Academy, the Metro League champion, began the year with a 1-8 record but now has won 14 in a row.

“Now I have my top pitcher available for the finals,” Fiorito said.

Like the Warriors, SCC (9-10) got off to a poor start, losing its first seven games of the season. But the Flames rallied late in the regular season to finish third in the Arrowhead League.

First-year Coach Darin Owens also went with his No. 2 pitcher Tuesday, but quickly yanked Chad White with two out in the top of the fourth inning after Academy’s Tim Boehnke singled in two runs for a 3-1 lead.

Jeremy Smith, SCC’s top pitcher, took over for White and got the side out, but in later innings he gave up three runs and five hits.

Meanwhile, the Flames’ offense, which has had trouble scoring runs all season, struggled again. Their lone run came in the bottom of the third, when two errors and a single by Chad White drove in Ryan Butler to tie the score, 1-1.

“I knew it would come down to us manufacturing a run or two and them breaking down for an inning or so,” Owens said. “We needed to get a break or two to close the deal on them and it turned out we didn’t get one.”