Brandon Perez pitched a four-hitter in his first start of the season, helping Mater Dei beat Servite, 2-1, on Saturday and clinch the Trinity League’s third and final guaranteed playoff spot.
The Monarchs (17-12, 8-7) swept the week’s three-game series against the Friars.
Nick Pratto had a pinch-hit RBI single for Mater Dei.
The Trinity League’s three representatives in the playoffs will be JSerra, the league champion, Orange Lutheran and Mater Dei.
In another Trinity League game Saturday:
No. 1 JSerra 8, Santa Margarita 7: Christian Molfetta slugged a three-run home run and Brady Shockey added three hits for the Lions (25-4-1, 12-2-1), who are expected to be the No. 1 seed in Division 1 when the CIF-SS playoff pairings are released Monday morning.
In the Garden Grove League:
Garden Grove 3, Santiago 1: The Argonauts clinched their third consecutive league title with the victory.
Rancho Alamitos 5, La Quinta 1: The Vaqueros finished second in league and will advance to the playoffs.
