San Dimas clinches fifth straight Valle Vista baseball title

The San Dimas baseball team secured it’s fifth straight Valle Vista League title when it defeated Covina 11-1 Tuesday night.

The Saints (20-5) have a game left Thursday against Covina, then its on to the postseason where they will be competing in a very tough Division 2.

It is a younger version of the Saints than what coaches Mike Regan and Mark Chiappelli are used to with several freshmen playing key roles.

“We have potential but we have a lot of guys that haven’t been there before,” Regan said. “You get to the playoffs and you’re going to see better pitching and you never know how younger guys are going to respond.”

Regan singled out the leadership of his experienced seniors in Dante Palacio, Joseph Bahna and Lorenzo Llorens. Bahna, who is hitting .387, has signed with NCAA Division II Cal State San Marcos while Palacio, hitting .377 with a team-high 24 RBIs, is headed to Cal Poly Pomona.

Palacio had two hits and three RBI while Bahna slugged a two-run home run to highlight Tuesday’s win. Freshman Isiah Marquez also had a pair of hits.

Sophomore Zach Jacobs (7-2, 1.15) went the distance and picked up the win in the league-clinching game.

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Valle Vista League honors: Baseball

MVP: Jessie Garcia, San Dimas

First team
Joseph Bahna, Jr., San Dimas
Hank Chen, HH Wilson
Corey Frutos, Jr., Covina
Josh Guzman, Sr., Northview
Luis Huizar, Sr., Rowland
Sean Lewison, Sr., Covina
Lorenzo Llorens, Jr., San Dimas
Justin Martinez, Jr., Covina
Dante Palacio, Jr., San Dimas
Jimmy Portillo, Sr., Northview
Matt Rodriguez, Sr., HH Wilson
Ethan Suarez, Sr., HH Wilson
Pablo Valenzuela, Sr., Nogales
Ryan White, Sr., Covina
Jacob Wilson, Sr., Northview
Victor Zepeda, Soph., San Dimas

Second team
Ray Benevidez, Sr., Covina
Hugo Candelas, Sr., Covina
Mark Cazares, Sr., HH Wilson
Jonathan Guardado, Jr., Nogales
Ryan Hurtado, Jr., Covina
Zach Jacobs, Fr., San Dimas
Michael Landeros, Soph., Nogales
Mat Orozco, Jr., HH Wilson
Joe Robles, Jr., Nogales
Ruben Rosales, Sr., Northview
Art Ruiz, Fr., San Dimas
Matt Sanchez, Sr., Northview
D.J. Simmons, Soph., Northview
Benny Torres, Soph., San Dimas
Austin Wolford, Jr., Covina

Honorable mention: Alan Antolin, Sr., Rowland; Aaron Aparicio, Jr., HH Wilson; Luciano Cardenas, Sr., Nogales; Joseph Oliveras, Fr., San Dimas; Nick Rodriguez, Sr., Rowland; Frankie Sanchez, Jr., HH Wilson; Miguel Vega, Sr., HH Wilson.

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Peter Lambert of San Dimas heads MaxPreps honorees

Peter Lambert of San Dimas High School has been named Medium Schools State Player of the Year by MaxPreps, adding to a long list of previously earned accolades.

Lambert, the No. 44 overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies, went 13-0 on the mound with a 0.34 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched. He also posted five shutouts and nine complete games in helping lead San Dimas to a 31-1 overall record.

Junior teammate Jacob Castillo also made the first team as utility player. He hit .341 with 30 runs, 16 RBI, 4 doubles, 2 triples. On the mound he went 11-1 pitching with an  0.43 ERA and 119 strikeouts in  82.1 innings.

Senior Hazahel Quihada of San Gorgonio also earned a first team-selection. He hit .444 with 24 runs, 32 RBI, 15 doubles, 1 triple. On the mound he was 10-1 with 116 strikeouts and an 0.98 ERA in 71.1 innings.

The High Desert was also represented as senior outfielder R.J. Peace of Division 4 CIF champion Serrano made first team. He hit .352 with 30 runs, 14 RBI, 6 doubles, 1 triple and 1 home run.

Soloman Bates of Oak Hills and junior outfielder Saxon Andross of Serrano made the second team.

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Four local baseball standouts earn Cal-Hi Sports honor

Four local baseball players have been to the All-State Underclassmen team by Cal-Hi Sports.

The quartet is led by San Dimas juniors Jacob Castillo and Tommy Acuna. Both were named to the first team with Castillo selected as a pitcher and Acuna named as an infielder.

The duo led San Dimas to a 31-1 record. Castillo, who has committed to San Diego State, was 11-1 with an 0.43 ERA and also hit .341. Meanwhile Acuna, who committed to Arizona just last week, his .529 with 25 RBI.

Two locals also earned second team honors. Sophomore shortstop Tyler Freeman was named in the infield while Ayala junior Matthew Acosta was named in the outfield.

Freeman, who has committed to Texas Christian, hit .398 and scored 27 runs in helping the Eagles to a Baseline League title.

Acosta, who has signed with USC, was the top player for the Bulldogs. He hit .4689 and scored 25 runs.

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Pitcher Peter Lambert of San Dimas lands another honor

Right-hander Peter Lambert of San Dimas may be off starting his professional baseball career but the honors continue to roll in nonetheless.

Lambert, who was drafted in the second round by the Colorado Rockies, was one of just 11 players named to the All-California Team by USA Today.

Lambert was nothing short of spectacular. He had 13 starts and won all of those, completing nine. Five were shutouts and he allowed only four earned runs and managed 113 strikeouts in 83 innings for a miniscule ERA of 0.43.

Shortstop Branden Becker of Cajon, who was drafted and signed by the Baltimore Orioles, was named to the second team.

Here’s the complete list of players honored. It is a pretty select group.

Player of the Year: Joe DeMers, P, Pleasant Hill College Park, Sr.

FIRST TEAM
Justin Hooper, P, Concord De La Salle, Sr.
Peter Lambert, P, San Dimas, Sr.
Chris Betts, C, Long Beach Wilson, Sr.
Devin Davis, INF, Santa Clarita Valencia, Sr.
Nick Madrigal, INF, Elk Grove, Sr.
Tyler Nevin, INF, Poway, Sr.
Luke Williams, INF, Dana Point, Sr.
Daniel Amaral, OF, Huntington Beach, Sr.
Matt Smith, OF, Placentia El Dorado, Sr.
James Terrell, OF, St. Patrick-St. Vincent Vallejo, Sr.

SECOND TEAM
Marrick Crouse, P, Dana Hills, Sr.
Kyle Molnar, P, Aliso Viejo, Sr.
Patrick Sandoval, P, Mission Viejo, Sr.
Lucas Herbert, C, San Clemente, Sr.
Branden Becker, INF, Cajon, Sr.
John Cresto, INF, San Diego Cathedral Catholic, Sr.
Devin Davis, INF, Santa Clarita Valencia, Sr.
Royce Lewis, INF, Junipero Serra, So.
Anthony Gordon, OF, Terra Nova Pacifica, Sr.
Alex McKenna, OF, Mission Hills Bishop Alemany, Sr.
Jagger Rusconi, OF, West Ranch, Sr.

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San Dimas’ Tommy Acuna commits to Arizona

 

San Dimas High School baseball standout Tommy Acuna has made a verbal commitment to University of Arizona.

Acuna played in the Junior Olympics in Arizona with Team California which gave that school an opportunity to scout him. The school had also seen him on a couple of other occasions.

“I’m really excited. It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “It’s the Pac 12 so it will be great competition.”

Acuna helped the Saints to a 31-1 record, a Valle Vista League title and a national rankings.

He earned first-team All-League honors, hitting .529 with eight doubles, 25 RBI and 13 runs scored. He started out the season serving primarily as designated hitter but stepped in at third base late in the season after an injury to the starter Joseph Bahna.

His father, Thomas Sr., always liked the school so it couldn’;t have worked out better.

“He always liked that school. It was sort of his dream school,” Tommy said. “Now I am going there. It’s funny that it worked out that way.”

Acuna is considering majoring in law.

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San Dimas rolls to 9-0 playoff win behind Peter Lambert

VIDEO: Senior Peter Lambert of San Dimas talks about his one-hitter against La Quinta.

The top-seeded San Dimas baseball team had no trouble in its first round Division 3 opener, beating visiting La Quinta 9-0.

The Saints (29-0) got the usual stellar outing from ace Pete Lambert (12-0) who allowed just one base runner, that coming on a two-out double in the sixth. He struck out four.

Lambert, San Dimas baseball cruise past La Quinta 9-0 in playoff opener

Did the Saints really need to have their ace out there in the first game? Probably not. La Quinta was a third-place team in its league and had an overall record under .500. So they could have still won the game with one of their other pitchers.

Many coaches would have opted to hold back the ace for the next game but Mike Regan opted not to do so. Of course most teams don’t have the luxury of a No. 2 pitcher the caliber of Jacob Castillo (10-0).

The numbers of the two are pretty ridiculous. Lambert has given up a paltry four earned runs in 76 innings for a miniscule ERA of 0.37.

How about Castillo? Well he’s 11-0 and has given up just one, yes one, run in 69 innings for an even more miniscule 0.10. He’ll get the all for Tuesday’s second round contest against Garden Grove.

Is there a better 1-2 punch on the mound anywhere? Probably not.

This is a team with other quality arms as well so it is suited for a run deep into the playoffs. Stay tuned!

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Can anyone stop the San Dimas baseball team?

The San Dimas baseball team heads into this week with a still spotless record at 24-0. The next opponent – Rowland (7-11).

So can anyone stop the Saints?

Many say a loss would be a good thing. The Saints still have a Valle Vista League title in hand and it might keep the players from getting too complacent. But veteran coach Mike Regan doesn’t buy that.

“You never want to lose,” he said. “Of course if we are I’d rather it happen now than in the playoffs.”

Regan says he is guarding against just that. Before Thursday’s game against Covina he discussed the matter and stressed the importance on focus and not getting too far ahead. It worked. The Saints rolled to a 10-0 win.

“I think it was one of our best all-around games of the season,” he said.

Of course the Saints, ranked No. 1 in Division 3, have the formidable 1-2 punch on the mound in senior Peter Lambert (9-0, 0.24) and junior Jacob Castillo (8-0, 0.12). There is also a solid No. 3 in senior Jonathan Longtin (3-0, 0.00). Angel Maya, who threw a no-hitter in his first game after becoming eligible after a transfer, has been used out of the bullpen.

The unsung hero has been sophomore third baseman Joseph Bahna. Regan said going into the season he was missing a starter at the hot corner and a leadoff hitter. Bahna has filled both of those roles admirably.

“He hasn’t just made the routine plays he has made all the difficult ones too,” Regan said.

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San Dimas baseball to play for tournament title

San Dimas Baseball⚾️

The San Dimas baseball team registered a 2-1 win over St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.) on Thursday to advance to the championship game of the Don Lugo Easter Tournament.

It was probably the best game and closest call of the season for the unbeaten Saints who got a walk-off run-scoring hit from Logan Murratalla for the win. Senior Jonathan Longtin went the distance on the mound, striking out nine.

The Saints (17-0) will host Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) at 7 p.m. on Friday in the final game. Paul VI advanced with a win over Linfield Christian.

The third-place game will feature the host Don Lugo. The Conquistadores defeated Diamond Bar 9-8 on Thursday to earn the right to play Walnut at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Walnut (5-7-2) advanced with a 6-4 victory over Pomona (8-5).

 

 

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San Dimas baseball team on a roll, improves to 14-0

The San Dimas baseball team is on quite the roll and coaches Mike Regan and Mark Chiappelli are probably hoping the Saints don’t peak too soon.

The team is 14-0 with that start including three wins over local foe Bonita, the last being by a 5-0 tally in the championship game of the Anaheim Lions Tournament on Wednesday.

“It’s really a special group,” Regan says. “They have all played together growing up so they’re a pretty tight group. And they’re all very unselfish. It’s a pleasure to coach them.”

San Dimas has the No. 1 stud pitcher in senior Peter Lambert who has more than lived up to expectations. He’s 4-0 with a microscopic 0.52 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 27 innings.

But he has another standout as well in Jacob Castillo who is 4-0 as well and has yet to give up a run. That’s a pretty formidable 1-2 punch.

Those two are also a significant part of the offense when not on the mound. Lambert is hitting .302, Castillo .344.

Then there are Logan Murratalla (.333) and Joseph Millwee (.385).

But Regan has been most surprised by the contributions of sophomores Dante Palacio (.341) and Joseph Bahna who hit first and third in the lineup.

All are hoping to make up for last year’s playoff run which ended way too soon. This year they have the makings of a team that has the potential to go the distance.

Next up for the Saints is the Don Lugo Tournament. First up is Southlands Christian at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at San Dimas.

 

 

 

 

 

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