Crespi player races onto the field seconds after scoring the winning run against South Hills in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
LONG BEACH — A five-run lead in the fourth inning had the South Hills baseball team closing in on its seventh CIF Southern Section title.
But the bright start turned into a flaming finish for the Huskies.
On the game-ending play, the ball gets past South Hills first baseman Matt Manzos and Crespi's Sean Sapp is safe while the winning run scores in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Christopher Arce scores the winning run for the Celts as they beat South Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi players race onto the field after scoring the winning run against South Hills in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi players celebrate their win over South Hills in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills players react to the 6-5 loss to Crespi in the CIF-SS Division 2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Sterling Patick scores for the Huskies as they battle Crespi in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi players celebrate their win in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Sterling Patick celebrates closing out the inning with no runs as they take on Crespi in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Paul Vasquez rounds first looking to get a double as they take on Crespi in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi players pose for a group photo after winning CIF-SS Division 2 championship against South Hills in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi players celebrate their win in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Isaiah Magdaleno is safe at second as the ball stops short in reaching South Hills' Matt Moreno in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Landon Hodge scores for the Celts as they take on South Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Christopher Arce is racing for home to score the winning run for the Celts against South Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Isaiah Magdaleno gets things going for the Celts in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Ethan Kodama looks to get the out as they take on Shadow Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Diego Velazquez scores for the Celts as they take on South Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Marcos Rosales scores for the Huskies in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Jeremiah Jones tries to get the out as they take on Shadow Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Paul Vazquez scores for the Huskies as they take on Shadow Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Sterling Patick gets things going for the Huskies as they take on Crespi in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Matt Moreno tries to get Crespis Diego Velazquez out at second in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Christopher Arce yells to throw the ball to third as the Celts take on South Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi's Christopher Are looks to make the out as they take on South Hills in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
South Hills' Matt Moreno and Marcos Rosales try to get the out as they take on Crespi in the CIF-SS D2 championship in Long Beach, CA, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Crespi scored six unanswered runs, including four in the bottom of the seventh, to beat the Huskies 6-5 in the Division 2 championship game Saturday at Blair Field.
With the score tied and two outs and runners on first and second base, South Hills relief pitcher Matt Moreno fielded a bouncing ground ball to his right. His throw to first base was errant and got past the first baseman, which allowed Crespi’s Cristopher Arce to score the winning run.
“I’m just kind of numb right now,” South Hills coach Darren Murphy said. “I’m still taking it all in. When a team comes back on you like that, you hope it’s not because… it was self-induced. The mistakes were self-induced and to their credit, when they (Crespi) had the opportunity, they scored the runs.”
FINAL| Crespi are the D2 Champions on a wild final play.
It was the Huskies’ second trip to the CIF-SS finals with Murphy, who took them in 2016, and the 10th finals appearance in program history.
The four-run seventh inning came after South Hills ace Sterling Patick reached his pitch limit and had to be replaced on the mound. Patick had mostly kept the Celts in check through the first six innings.
Crespi scored two runs against Patick in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Huskies’ lead to 5-2.
The left-hander pitched six innings, allowed three hits, walked a batter and struck out nine.
“(Patrick) is the MVP of the valley,” Murphy said. “He came out today and gave us another six innings and did enough to get another win. Life isn’t fair. He shouldn’t leave with this happening to him.”
Huskies relief pitcher Joseph Moreno came in for the seventh inning, and he gave up three earned runs on four hits while getting just one out.
Murphy then tapped Matt Moreno. He struck out a batter before his throwing error on the final play.
“(Joseph Moreno) has been fantastic in the playoffs, but stuff happens in baseball,” Muprhy said.
Patick said he gave the sophomore pitcher some words of encouragement after the tough outing.
“(Joseph Moreno) is a great pitcher. He’s not one of those guys where high school is the end for his baseball career,” Patick said. “This is just a learning moment for him, and he will remember this game for the rest of his life. He’s going to get better from it. I told him to keep up the hard work because he’s a great pitcher.”
The Huskies built their early lead against Crespi’s ace, Isaiah Magdaleno.
South Hills junior Noah Malone ripped a bases-clearing double to give the Huskies a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. The Huskies scored another run in the inning, with the help of a Crespi error, to make it 4-0.
