Baseball teams from Venice, Sylmar, El Camino Real, and Birmingham move forward to the semifinals of the City Section tournaments.
Revamped Recap:
🔥 Gondoliers crush Chatsworth in a thrilling playoff debut
Heroics from the bat, stellar defense, and dominating pitching propelled Venice - the formidable #1 seed - to a convincing 4-1 victory over Chatsworth in the opening round of the City Section Open Division baseball playoffs.
The Gondoliers made the most of their home advantage, benefitting from their local knowledge of the field with high nets and short fences. The offensive catalyst came in the form of Jesse Dominguez and Ryan Shepard, who both smashed RBI doubles in the initial and second innings, respectively - with Dominguez's double sparking off the net in left field, and Shepard's finding a home off the net in right. Canon King continued the aerial onslaught in the sixth with a home run, which also kissed the net in right field.
Noel Moreno, boasting an impressive 11-1 record, took the mound for a complete game and was well-supported by his defense. Venice's backstop, Charlie Nisbet, showcased his acumen with several impactful plays. He nabbed a runner attempting to steal third in the first inning, and tagged a runner at the plate in the fifth, all thanks to a sensational relay throw from shortstop Daniel Quiroz. Meanwhile, Dylan Johnson, patroling right field, exhibited his arm strength, gunning down a Chatsworth runner trying to pull off a stretch double.
With this win, the senior-laden lineup of Venice advances to face Sylmar in the semifinals on May 21, 2025, at Cal State Northridge, at 6 pm. El Camino Real squares off with Birmingham in the first semifinal doubleheader match at 3 pm.
"Everything is blossoming," declared Canon King of the Gondoliers, signaling their determination to go the distance. In the meantime, Chatsworth's Luis Zaragoza shone from the mound, striking out seven batters.
California Powerhouse:- Victory Over Opponent: Sylmar- Score: Sylmar 2, Cleveland 0- Pitching Performance: Alex Martinez, an ace for Sylmar, hurled a five-hit shutout with four strikeouts- Offensive Standouts: Matthew Torres and Michael Andrade each registered a pair of hits for Sylmar.- Semifinals Matchup: Sylmar will next meet the victorious Venice team on May 21, 2025, in the semifinals.
Playoff Matchups to Follow:- You'll want to keep an eye out for the following games: * High school volleyball: City Section boys' playoff results and pairings * High school baseball: City Section playoff scores and updated pairings * Tuesday's City Section baseball playoff scores, updated pairings
In the upcoming semifinals of the City Section Open Division baseball playoffs, the victorious Venice Gondoliers, known for their aerial onslaught and impressive pitching, will square off against Sylmar on May 21, 2025, at Cal State Northridge, at 6 pm. Meanwhile, in California, not confined to baseball, the Sylmar team recently showcased their prowess with a 2-0 victory over Cleveland, thanks to an impressive pitching performance by Alex Martinez.
