A young lineup for Pacifica Christian has some rough moments in the championship game but players see a bright future for the program.

By STEVE FRYER | sfryer@scng.com | Orange County Register

PUBLISHED: May 18, 2024 at 3:13 p.m. | UPDATED: May 18, 2024 at 3:16 p.m 

LAKE ELSINORE – The Pacifica Christian baseball team's starting lineup Saturday included five freshmen, three sophomores and one junior. For a CIF Southern Section championship game. That youth showed up, and not in the best way.

In the first inning, the Tritons committed an error, hit a batter, failed to catch a deep fly that perhaps could have been caught and had a wild pitch. All of that put them in a hole they could not escape. Pacifica Christian lost to Azusa 5-0 in the CIF Southern Section Division 8 final at Lake Elsinore Diamond Stadium. It was a tough way to end a historic playoff run for Pacifica Christian in just the third year of the program.

"To get this far so early is fantastic," said Tritons coach Chris Gomez, who played Major League Baseball for 16 seasons. "For the boys to do what they're doing at such a young age is pretty special." Pacifica Christian (22-7) and Azusa (18-5) are eligible for the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs that begin May 28.

The Tritons had difficulty getting their bats going against Azusa pitcher Josh Torres. The senior right-hander threw a two-hitter, struck out 12 and walked one. "His approach against our batters was pretty good," said Pacifica Christian freshman pitcher John Coopman, who batted third in the order. "He had some good stuff." Torres and the Aztecs got all the runs they needed in the first inning. Batting leadoff, Torres started the inning by reaching first on an error. Isaac Miranda hit a triple to deep right field that drove in Miranda for a 1-0 lead. Jacob Elliott followed with a single to drive in Miranda to make it 2-0.

EJ Romero was hit by a pitch, sending Elliott to second base. Matt Huizar got an infield single, and Elliott scored on a wild pitch. Romero scored on Oscar Rojas' sacrifice fly for a 4-0 lead. Azusa got its other run in the fifth inning. Zach Huizar was hit by a pitch, stole second base and scored on Elliott's single to make it 5-0. Freshman third baseman Scout Escobedo got Pacifica Christian's first hit, in the fourth inning, but was doubled off of first base on Coopman's line drive that was caught by Aztecs first baseman Terry Chavez.

Escobedo got the Tritons' other hit, a one-out single in the seventh inning. Coopman followed with a walk. A pop out and Torres' 12th strikeout ended the inning. Coopman shook off the first inning to pitch well afterwards. He retired nine batters in a row at one point, went five innings and finished with six strikeouts. "We didn't play the greatest defense behind him," Gomez said. "But he battled the whole time. He never hung his head. I didn't expect anything less from him."

Pacifica Christian this season won a share of the San Joaquin League championship, earned the No. 1 seed in Division 8, reached a CIF-SS championship game and qualified for the regional playoffs. "We've had a season to remember," Escobedo said. "We have three more years to build up this program as teammates and human beings and as young men. The future is bright."