SAN CLEMENTE – With San Clemente’s baseball field facing the ocean, fly balls to right field are normally knocked down by a brisk ocean breeze.
Tritons senior Tyler Ankrom found a way through the wind, saving San Clemente’s season with a tying solo home run to right to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning.
Three innings later, Connor Sealey scored the winning run on an error and San Clemente escaped with a 4-3 win in 10 innings over Bonita of La Verne in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 2 playoffs.
“With the wind blowing in, it just doesn’t happen,” Ankrom said of the home run. “Today was the day, I guess. I was just trying to help my team by getting on (base), but he threw me an inside fastball and I turned on it.”
San Clemente moves on to play Chino Hills in the semifinals on Tuesday. The site will be determined Saturday.
With runners at first and second base in the 10th, Trevor Beard laid down a bunt that was fielded by Bearcats pitcher Nick Johnson, but his throw to third bounced away from Noah Williams, allowing Sealey to score.
Sealey led the Tritons at the plate with a 4-for-4 performance.
San Clemente (25-7) got on top early with two-RBI single by Dylan Riddle in the first inning.
Bonita (23-10) scored two runs in the third inning. and took a 3-2 lead on a solo home run by Alex Gonzalez in the fourth off Tritons starter Andre Pallante.
Woodall settled in and limited the Tritons over the next five innings before Ankrom’s tying homer.
“These guys have found ways to win all season long,” Tritons coach Dave Gellatly said. “I’m just glad we get to continue our season, that’s a great team.”
Riddle picked up the win by pitching four shutout innings in relief.
Contact the writer: npercy@ocregister.com
