JSerra bats silenced by Mira Costa in Boras Classic

JSerra players prepare to leave the field after losing to Mira Costa, 2-1, in the Boras Classic South Bracket championship game Friday at Mater Dei High.
JSerra's Brett Sveningson pitches against Mira Costa in the Boras Classic on Friday at Mater Dei High.
JSerra's Matt Manskar holds up the ball, but Mira Costa's Ty Conrad was able to slide safetly into second base in the second inning of the Boras Classic on Friday.
JSerra's Brady Shockey leaps for a fly ball, but it clears his glove and goes for a home run in the first inning for Mira Costa on Friday. Mira Costa won the game, 2-1.
JSerra's Matt Manskar tries to throw to first base for a double play as Mira Costa's Andrew Arteaga slides into second base in the fourth inning Friday of the Boras Classic.
JSerra outfielder Brady Shockey catches the ball for an out in right field as Royce Lewis stands nearby during the second inning of the Boras Classic game at Mater Dei High.
JSerra's Matt Manskar connects for a fly ball that landed for a run-scoring double against Mira Costa in the fifth inning Friday. Mira Costa won, 2-1.
JSerra's Brady Shockey races home to score a run against Mira Costa in the fifth inning Friday.
JSerra players stand for the national anthem at the start of the Boras Classic game Friday at Mater Dei High.
JSerra's Matt Manskar collides with teammate Brady Shockey as he dives for a foul ball during the fifth inning. Both players were able to stay in the game.

By Matthew Bain | Orange County Register

April 1, 2016 at 10:45 p.m.

SANTA ANA – At least 10 pro scouts were at Mater Dei on Friday for the Boras Classic, which ended with a championship game between JSerra and Mira Costa of Manhattan Beach.

Standing at 6-foot-5, Lions starter Brett Sveningson might have been on those scouts’ watchlists.

The UC San Diego signee pitched quite well. He lasted into the sixth inning with two runs allowed on six hits, two walks and five strikeouts. But Mira Costa starter Roland Houseman pitched better.

At 5-foot-10, 140 pounds, Houseman likely wasn’t on any watchlist, but he stifled No. 1 JSerra and led the Mustangs to a 2-1 win to claim the Boras Classic South Bracket title.

They’ll play North Bracket winner Davis in the overall championship game May 7 at Cal.

“Honestly, it’s pretty surreal,” Houseman said. “I can’t really sum it up with words, I can’t lie. It’s probably one of the best games I’ve pitched, especially the level it was on.”

Houseman, who had pitched only 31/3 innings this year, allowed one run on four hits, one walk and five strikeouts in six-plus innings. JSerra’s run came on a fluky play in the fifth, when left fielder Ty Conrad lost Matt Manskar’s fly ball in the lights and let it drop, allowing a two-out run.

UC Irvine signee Royce Lewis, Baylor signee Davis Wendzel, UCLA signee Chase Strumpf and Arizona State signee Lyle Lin combined to go 0 for 12 with four strikeouts against Houseman, whose herky-jerky motion and snappy off-speed wrecked a Lions offense that scored 28 runs in its previous three games.

“(Off-speed) seems to be our kryptonite a little bit,” JSerra coach Brett Kay said. “ … (Houseman) just did a really good job mixing, and we never really made an adjustment.

“I think (my players) thought we were just going to show up and win. That’s not the way baseball works.”

Mira Costa (11-1) jumped ahead in the second when Matt Beserra hit a solo shot to right. Zack Chan scored Chase Meidroth with a single in the fifth for a 2-0 lead.

JSerra (10-2) had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth after Manskar’s fortuitous RBI double, but Lewis ended the inning with a ground out.