Hesperia Christian’s Caleb Audet, right, slides safely into second base before San Marino’s Sid Danenhauer can tag him during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
SAN MARINO — The opportunities were there for the San Marino baseball team.
Facing off against Hesperia Christian at home in a CIF Southern Section Division 6 semifinal Tuesday, the Titans were able to get runners in scoring position in key moments in the fourth and fifth innings.
San Marino fell to Hesperia Christian, 3-1, in the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s Sid Danenhauer, left tosses the ball to Truman Koch (28) during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Caleb Audet, right, reaches out for the ball as San Marino’s Sid Danenhauer scrambles back to second base during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s Truman Koch keeps a foot on the bag to record an out before Hesperia Christian’s Luke Skinner can reach the bag during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s J.J. Wilson tosses the ball back into the infield during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals against Hesperia Christian at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s Liam Van Fossan watches the ball bounce over the wall for a ground rule double during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals against Hesperia Christian at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino huddles together before taking on Hesperia Christian in the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Caleb Audet, right, slides safely into second base before San Marino’s Sid Danenhauer can tag him during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s Tomas Bilvado (14) pitches against Hesperia Christian during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s Tyler Giddings, left, ducks out of the way of the ball while at bat against Hesperia Christian during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Cody News (1) pitches against San Marino during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Logan Day at bat against San Marino during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
San Marino’s dugout looks on as Hesperia Christian celebrates after winning the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinal at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian celebrates after defeating San Marino, 3-1, in the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Cody New, left, and Kyle Day embrace after their team defeated San Marino, 3-1, in the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Arlan Koester tries to get into position to catch the ball during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals against San Marino at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s Cody New lays down a bunt during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals against San Marino at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Hesperia Christian’s dugout tries to rally its batters during the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals against San Marino at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
A fan watches from the of the football field stands as San Marino takes on Hesperia Christian in the CIF-SS Division 6 baseball semifinals at San Marino High School in San Marino on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)
Even facing a strong arm in Hesperia Christian’s Cody New, who recorded 12 strikeouts, San Marino had its chances to score.
But in the fourth and fifth innings, San Marino generated just one run after getting two on base with one out in those at-bats, unable to fully capitalize and falling 3-1 to Hesperia Christian.
Hesperia Christian will face Castaic in the Division 6 championship game Friday or Saturday at Blair Field in Long Beach.
“We faced a good arm. I say if we would have played that team in a series, we could pull through there,” San Marino coach John Franklin said. “They had a good arm out there on the bump and our guys still battled through it.”
New set the tone early for Hesperia Christian, striking out half of the first 10 batters he faced. He didn’t didn’t allow a hit through the first four innings and gave up just three hits all game.
As the game progressed, his velocity seemed to increase and his accuracy seemed sharper, a skill he credits his teammates for helping him with.
“I just build off the team. If you look into the dugout, the team is always engaged,” the left-handed senior said. “I’m just feeding off that adrenaline and that’s what makes me keep going.”
While New paved the way on the mound, he also got his team on the scoreboard in the first inning.
Leadoff hitter Caleb Audet found the gap for a single. He then stole second base and scored on a double by New three at-bats later. A sacrifice fly by Logan Day scored Arlan Koester, giving the Patriots an early 2-0 lead.
San Marino pitcher Tomas Bilvado was able to limit the damage, allowing just one more run the rest of the way, a ground rule double by Luke Beasley that scored Koester in the sixth inning.
Senior Michael Liquori took the mound to close out the game, recording three strikeouts, but the Titans’ offense couldn’t get past New.
San Marino’s lone run came in the fifth inning off an RBI single by Sid Danenhauer, scoring Nico Oseguedoa, who came in as a pinch runner for Sebastian Liquori after he started the inning off with a base hit.
“We’ve been in spots like that all season. We play until the final out, “Franklin said. “What I love about this team is they don’t try to play selfish baseball. These guys buy into team baseball and put together good at-bats, lay good bunts down. Our guys did that today but fell a little short.”
In his second year leading the team, Franklin has helped turn around a San Marino program that finished last in the Rio Hondo League last season.
Two years ago, the Titans won just one game all season.
“Being on the team sophomore year, we only won one game. This year we set a goal to win league,” Michael Liquori said. “We played our hearts out and did as much as we could. I’m proud of this team.”
