CHINO HILLS – Will Tribucher gave San Clemente’s baseball team a chance. The senior left-hander went the distance and gave up four runs on six hits.
Tribucher also went 3 for 4 at the plate, including a two-out, seventh-inning RBI double to pull the Tritons to within one run.
But Chino Hills ace Bailey Falter, who came on in the seventh, got a strikeout with runners on second and third to finish off a 4-3 victory over San Clemente in the semifinal Tuesday afternoon at Chino Hills High.
Chino Hills (21-8) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with the help from a couple of Tritons errors, and the Huskies would not be caught.
“We came out pretty tight in the first inning and misplayed a couple balls,” Tritons coach David Gellatly said. “It was a tough ballpark to play in and the wind was blowing out, but our guys settled down and played the way we’re capable of playing. We battled to the end.”
Dylan Riddle cut San Clemente’s deficit to 2-1 with a solo home run in the second inning.
Lucas Herbert had an RBI single with two outs in the seventh and Tribucher followed with his run-scoring double.
“We made some mistakes today, but I’ll never forget the brothers I played with all season,” Tribucher, the University of Michigan commit said. “I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything in the world.”
Tribucher singled twice, doubled and struck out five. Riddle went 2 for 3, including the home run for San Clemente (25-8).
In the sixth inning, Chino Hills failed on two squeeze attempts and had two runners tagged out at the plate.
