A year after reaching the CIF-Southern Section semifinals, Academy for Academic Excellence’s postseason run ended in the first round of the Division 8 playoffs.
The Knights entered the playoffs on a 14-game winning streak but were held to just one hit and struck out 15 times in the 6-0 loss to Santa Clarita Christian on Thursday, May 15.
The Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a single from Zach Pena and it proved to be more than enough for the win.
The Knights’ lone hit came from Caleb Walker in the bottom of the fifth. As the game was still in reach.
Liam McCarthy drew a lead-off walk and later advanced to third following the single and a passed ball. Conner Clancy drew a walk to load the bases but Bryson Lilly struck out to end the threat.
In the top of the sixth, an error and a dropped third strike led to two runners on with no outs. The Knights nearly escaped the jam with a pair of strikeouts but the Cardinals managed to score five runs and allowed just one base runner the rest of the way.
The Knights end the season with an overall record of 20-5 after going unbeaten in Agape League play.
Santa Clarita Christian (13-7) advances to the second round against Duarte or Buckley.
Other Baseball Scores
Division 4 — Rio Mesa 6, Hesperia 0
At Oxnard, the Scorpions allowed four runs in the bottom of the second inning and were held to just three hits.
Division 6 — Troy 4, Granite Hills 2
At Fullerton, the Cougars couldn’t rally from a three-run deficit and managed just one run in the top of the seventh inning.
Division 7 — Golden Valley 5, University Prep 1
At Santa Clarita, the Jaguars were held to just two hits and struck out 14 times in the first-round exit.
University Prep’s lone run came on a double from Baxter Anderson in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Division 8 — Schurr 2, Hesperia Christian 1
At Montebello, the Spartans scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning on an error by the Patriots.
Freshman Austin Koester allowed five hits and struck out three over six innings for Hesperia Christian.
Division 9 — Rolling Hills Prep 18, Lucerne Valley 5
At San Pedro, Jakob Barajas went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, two runs and a stolen base in the Mustangs’ first-round loss.
Division 9 — Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy 9, Environmental Charter 5
At Lawndale, Ryelon Brandt struck out 10 batters over five innings to lead the Cougars.
At the plate, he went 2 for 5 with a RBI and two runs. Andrew Honnold went 3 for 3 with a RBI and two runs, and struck out two batters over two innings in relief.
The Cougars (13-13-1) will be at Pomona or host Temecula Prep.
Softball Scores
Division 3 — No. 3 Riverside Prep 2, Quartz Hill 1
At Oro Grande, Daisy Hernandez laced a two-out single, scoring Breeanna Garcia, in the bottom of the sixth inning to push the Silver Knights past the Royals.
Freshman Lila Morris allowed just two hits and struck out 13 batters to pick up the win. Hernandez and Gracia each ended with a pair of hits.
Riverside Prep (24-4) will be on the road against Valley Christian or Oak Park, which play Friday.
Division 4 — Apple Valley 4, Hillcrest 0
At Apple Valley, Makaylee Cerf spun a five-hit shutout with four strikeouts to lead the Sun Devils.
Brooke Johnson smacked a home run in the first inning and it was all the run support needed. Apple Valley also scored runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
The Sun Devils (18-10-1) will be on the road against Oxnard, which shut out Poly 14-0.
Division 4 — Oak Hills 15, Linfield Christian 11
At Oak Hills, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 9-0 lead after two innings and held on for the win.
Sienna Garcia led the offense by going 4 for 5 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs; Amaya Sigala went 3 for 5 with a RBI and two runs; Dallyse York went 3 for 4 with a RBI, two runs and a stolen base; and Kaylin Steede went 3 for 4.
Oak Hills (13-9-1) will be on the road against Sunny Hills, which beat Chino 17-7.
Division 5 — University 2, University Prep 1
At Irvine, the Jaguars led 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh and lost on a walk-off pop fly, deep enough to score the game-winning run.
Saidy Gonzalez drove in University Prep’s lone run with a double in the top of the fifth inning.
Division 6 — Arroyo 11, Serrano 1
At El Monte, the Diamondbacks lost by mercy rule after allowing eight runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Division 6 — Granite Hills 32, Big Bear 12
At Big Bear, Emily Marks and Mackinzie Gomez each racked up five hits in an offensive showcase for the Cougars.
Marks went 5 for 6 with a home run, four RBIs and three runs, and Gomez went 5 for 7 with three RBIs, four runs and two stolen bases.
Isabel Brandon smacked a pair of home runs; Saylor Croom went 4 for 6 with a home run, six RBIs and five runs; and Kathryn McCartney went 3 for 6 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs.
Granite Hills (11-8) will host Eastside, which beat Hamilton 7-4.
Division 6 — Alhambra 9, Silverado 6
At Alhambra, the Hawks racked up 15 runs but it wasn’t enough in the first-round loss.
Alexis Rodriguez and Aryhana Shyne both went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and a run.
Division 6 — Hesperia Christian 8, Los Amigos 7
At Hesperia, Josslyn Vander Weide laced a walk-off double to score Charli Lewis in the eighth inning.
The Patriots scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings.
Lewis ended 3 for 3 with two runs; Riley Piorkowski went 3 for 3 with two runs; and Eden Skinner went 2 for 2 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs.
Hesperia Christian (18-9) will be on the road against St. Monica Prep.
Division 6 — St. Monica Prep 4, Academy for Academic Excellence 3
At Santa Monica, the Knights led by a run in the seventh inning and lost on a walk-off single.
Kayla Berg went 2 for 4 with a run, and Kelsey Walker went 3 for 3 with a run.
Division 7 — Victor Valley 7, Tustin 3
At Victorville, Andrea Garcia fell a single shy of the cycle as she led the Jackrabbits offense.
Garcia ended 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs, while Delilah Ramirez went 2 for 4 with a RBI, three runs and a stolen base.
Alyssa Vega struck out 11 batters and allowed three runs on three hits over seven innings.
Victor Valley (8-16) will host Orange or travel to Bellflower for the second round.
Division 8 — No. 1 Academy of Careers & Exploration 26, Public Safety Academy 1
At Helendale, Izabella Sanchez capped the 10-run first inning with a grand slam to lead the top-seeded Eagles.
Sanchez hit for the cycle, with four RBIs and five runs, while striking out 12 batters over five innings. Bethany White went 3 for 3 with three RBIs and four runs, and Addison Shockley went 1 for 2 with three walks and four runs.
ACE (10-10) will be at Avalon, which beat Santa Clarita Christian 11-3.
Division 8 — No. 4 Cobalt Institute of Math & Science Academy 17, Cornerstone Christian 3
At Victorville, the Cougars racked up 11 hits in the mercy-rule victory.
Reagan Farrand led the way going 3 for 4 with three RBIs, two runs and a stolen base.
CIMS (10-7) will be on the road against Santa Rosa Academy, which beat Environmental Charter 15-5.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: CIF-SS baseball, softball playoff scores from across the High Desert
Reporting by Jose Quintero, Victorville Daily Press / Victorville Daily Press
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