St. John Bosco claims Division 1 baseball title via Miles Clark's game-ending single.
In a riveting championship baseball game that will undoubtedly be etched in memories for eternity, St. John Bosco triumphed over Santa Margarita in the Southern Section Division 1 final, held at Cal State Fullerton on Friday night.
"This game was exceptional, an experience I'll remember forever," expressed St. John Bosco's left fielder, Noah Everly, underscoring the drama that unfolded on the field.
The encounter was replete with high-stakes plays. The teams showcased resilience, trading critical moments until the bottom of the ninth inning, when Miles Clark smashed a walk-off single up the middle, securing a 3-2 victory for St. John Bosco before a sellout crowd of 3,010 spectators.
Santa Margarita's coach, Chris Malec, and his counterpart lamented the close margin, acknowledging the spectacular performance put forth by both teams. "It's heartbreaking," Malec said. "Two sides gave everything they had. There were countless remarkable sequences."
Santa Margarita's pitcher, Brennan Bauer, shone with five scoreless innings of relief, demonstrating unparalleled fortitude in escaping bases-loaded predicaments in the bottom of the seventh inning on two separate occasions. In the first instance, with a 3-and-1 count against Everly, Bauer elicited a pop fly with one out, followed by a fly out to the warning track against Moises Razo on a 3-2 count.
Everly sealed the deal with a stunning, run-saving diving catch in left field during the top of the ninth inning, preventing an extra base hit from Santa Margarita and maintaining the 2-2 deadlock.
In the decisive bottom of the ninth, with bases loaded, Clark delivered against relief pitcher Ethan Russell, driving a single through the heart of the diamond to propel St. John Bosco to a title victory. "We were determined throughout the game," Clark noted. "We maintained mental focus, and I kept encouraging my teammates to stay resolute."
The first inning saw Razo capitalize on a two-run double, granting Santa Margarita an initial advantage. The Eagles managed to narrow the gap to 2-1 in the second inning, exploiting an error, before tying the game at 2-2 in the fifth inning courtesy of a squeeze bunt by Blake Ankrum, marking the third sacrifice play of the game.
St. John Bosco's pitching staff displayed remarkable consistency throughout the season and proved instrumental in the title run's success. Jack Champlin, the closer, stood out in this particular game, pitching four scoreless innings, conceding only one hit with four strikeouts. A confrontation between a Santa Margarita batter and Champlin following a questionable 3-0 count was met with a dramatic strikeout, with the pitcher unleashing an impassioned fist pump afterwards.
St. John Bosco stood out as the most consistent team in the Southland during the 2025 season, boasting a 27-4 record and clinching the Trinity League championship, making them the first Trinity League team to capture a Division 1 title. The feat of overcoming top-seeded Corona 2-0 in the semifinals was particularly noteworthy.
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Los Angeles, California, was the setting for an unforgettable baseball game, as St. John Bosco clinched the Southern Section Division 1 title, defeating Santa Margarita after a thrilling ninth inning. The high stakes game, held at Cal State Fullerton, showcased remarkable performances, resilience, and close calls, each team showcasing their skill and determination. In fact, St. John Bosco's pitcher, Jack Champlin, became a standout player, pitching four scoreless innings and striking out four, contributing significantly to their victory. After the game, St. John Bosco's baseball team found themselves on the cover of Sports Illustrated California, a testament to their exceptional season and the exciting MLB-worthy game.
