Marcos Rosales #13 of South Hills high fives teammates after scoring on a single by teammate Noah Malone (not pictured) of South Hills against Calabasas in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Everything that needs to go right has gone right so far for the South Hills baseball team in these CIF Southern Section playoffs.
The Huskies have reached the Division 2 championship game Saturday at Blair Field in Long Beach at 1 p.m., and are hoping to win the school’s seventh section title, and first since 2016, with a victory over Crespi.
South Hills reacts after Nate Castellon (not pictured) of Calabasas was tagged out at home plate in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul Vazquez #3 reacts after scoring on a single by teammate Noah Malone (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the seventh inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Darren Murphy of South Hills reacts against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Relief pitcher Joseph Moreno #22 of South Hills throws to the plate against Charter Oak in the sixth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Gabe Martinez #17 of South Hills reacts after a lead off double against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Matt Moreno #1 of South Hills scores on a single by teammate Paul Vazquez (not pictured) of South Hills against Calabasas in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Matt Moreno #1 of South Hills celebrates after scoring on a single by teammate Paul Vazquez (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul Vazquez #3 of South Hills two run single against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Relief pitcher Joseph Moreno #22 of South Hills throws to the plat against Charter Oak in the third inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Coach Mike Parisi, left, with head coach Darren Murphy of South Hills look on against Charter Oak in the second inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Gabe Martinez #17 of South Hills moves to third on a double by teammate Matt Moreno (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Luke Bauer #11 of South Hills celebrates with teammate Marcos Rosales #13 of South Hills after scoring against Calabasas in the second inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joseph Moreno #22 of South Hills celebrates with teammates after defeating Calabasas 5-1 to win the Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Malaki Pelayo #12 reacts after scoring on a single by teammate Noah Malone (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the seventh inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Matt Moreno #1 of South Hills scores on a single by teammate Paul Vazquez (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach head coach Darren Murphy of South Hills takes out starting pitcher Joseph Moreno #22 of South Hills in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game against Calabasas at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Marcos Rosales #13 of South Hills high fives teammates after scoring on a single by teammate Noah Malone (not pictured) of South Hills against Calabasas in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Noah Malone #2 of South Hills watches his two RBI single against Calabasas in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
South Hills celebrates after defeating Calabasas 5-1 to win the Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul Vazquez #3 of South Hills reacts after Nate Castellon (not pictured) of Calabasas was tagged out at home plate in the sixth inning of a Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. South Hills won 5-1. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Noah Malone #2 of South Hills celebrates after defeating Calabasas 5-1 to win the Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
South Hills celebrates after defeating Calabasas 5-1 to win the Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joseph Moreno #22 of South Hills celebrates with teammates after defeating Calabasas 5-1 to win the Division 2 semifinal playoff baseball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Paul Vazquez #3 reacts after scoring on a single by teammate Noah Malone (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the seventh inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Malaki Pelayo #12 reacts after scoring on a single by teammate Noah Malone (not pictured) of South Hills against Charter Oak in the seventh inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Gabe Martinez #17 of South Hills reacts after a lead off double against Charter Oak in the fifth inning of a Division 2 second round playoff baseball game at Charter Oak High School in Covina on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. South Hills won 8-2. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
South Hills has survived each round with strong pitching, unsung heroes, timely hits and late-inning runs. The stars have remained aligned for the finals, because the Huskies get to send out their senior ace, left-hander Sterling Patick, a University of Santa Barbara signee, in the championship on a full week of rest.
South Hills (24-6), the No. 2 seed, beat Calabasas 5-1 in the semifinals.
Huskies coach Darren Murphy thought about using Patick in Tuesday’s semifinal game when they had a 2-1 lead, but the Huskies scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth, allowing them to save Patick.
“You feel a momentum come when you start advancing in the playoffs,” Murphy said. “And it always starts on the mound.”
Murphy was at the helm when the Huskies won their championship in 2016, and he also coached Northview to a championship prior to arriving at South Hills.
“When you’ve done this long enough, and you’re fortunate to win a couple (titles), some luck has to fall into place and the bracket needs to open up,” Murphy said. “Our offense has done a real good job late in games, against Charter Oak and again against Calabasas, where we didn’t have to use Sterling in a do-or-die situation. This time of year pitchers have a lot of innings under their belt, so to be able to have him rested like this is big.”
They will need him because Crespi (20-7-3), which competes in the difficult Mission League that includes strong Division 1 teams such as Notre Dame, Harvard-Westlake and Sierra Canyon, knocked off top-seeded Aquinas 5-3 in the semifinals.
Crespi will likely send out senior ace Isaiah Magdaleno, a University of Hawaii commit who was last year’s Mission League pitcher of the year. Magdaleno is 3-0 with a 0.57 ERA.
In the game the Celts won against Notre Dame, which was the No. 1 seed in the Division 1 playoffs, Magdaleno was on the mound and went seven innings in the 3-1 victory.
“All reports come back that they’re a very good team from a great league, but I would like to think we have a good name and people know who we’re too,” Murphy said. “If you’re in the championship, you’re not fearing anyone. They’re battle-tested having played Notre Dame, Harvard-Westlake and others, but so are we. It should be a great matchup, we’re looking forward to it.”
South Hills will also have sophomore pitcher Joseph Moreno available should they need him. Moreno has thrown 10 1/3 shutout innings in the playoffs.
Senior catcher Malaki Pelayo, who missed the semifinal game with a shoulder injury, which forced the Huskies to start freshman Aiden Soto, will be a game-time decision Saturday.
South Hills has received contributions in the playoffs from their top hitters, Noah Malone, Paul Vasquez, Matt Moreno, Marcos Rosales and Steven Jimenez.
But it all comes down to one game, and Murphy knows to expect the unexpected.
“You expect your so-called studs to perform,” he said, “but anything can happen in a championship game, so everyone has to be ready for that moment.”
