LA PUENTE – Woodbridge’s baseball team belted three home runs in support of starting pitcher Jake Larson as the Warriors defeated Bishop Amat of La Puente, 8-1, in the quarterfinals of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs Friday afternoon at Bishop Amat High.
“It was an unbelievable team win,” said Woodbridge coach Tim Murray.
Shortstop Aharon Modlin belted two-run home runs in the fourth and sixth innings, both to left field. Modlin, who had just one home run all season, also had an RBI single in the second inning. He went 3 for 4 with five RBI.
Third-seeded Woodbridge (22-7) moves on to the semifinals. It will be on the road against No. 2 seed Palm Desert at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
Woodbridge outhit Bishop Amat, 11-5, with the Pepperdine-bound Modlin leading the way.
“I just came in with the right approach and great mindset and it worked out for me,” Modlin said. “We’re excited. It just shows all of our hard work pays off, and we’re getting ready to go back to practice and keep on working.”
Larson (9-3) pitched the first six innings before being relieved by Kyle Giberson, who pitched a scoreless seventh.
Larson, who struck out four, worked out of trouble in the second inning, getting Jesus Maldonado to fly out with two on and two outs and was pretty much in control after that.
“It was a great win; we showed we have a lot of heart, we came out and got on them early,” Larson said. “I was trying to find the strike zone and get my mechanics under control, but knowing I have a great defense behind me is a great feeling.”
Woodbridge jumped ahead with two runs in the second inning off starting pitcher Isaac Esqueda.
Shoma Yoshida had an RBI double and Modlin delivered an RBI single.
Modlin’s two-run home run in the fourth inning made it 4-0. In the fifth inning, Jackson Lyon doubled and scored on a single by Chase Bradley, giving Woodbridge a 5-0 lead.
Bishop Amat (18-14) scored a run in the fifth inning to break the shutout.
In the top of the sixth, Modlin hit a two-run home run to put the Warriors ahead, 7-1.
Spencer Weston drilled a solo home run in the seventh to help send the Warriors into the semifinals.
“That’s the way it should be,” Murray said of facing Palm Desert in the semifinals. “They’re the two seed and we’re the three seed, and we’re going to have to go on the road. I think we showed today of what we’re capable (of doing) on the road. It’s time for us to do it again.
“It’s a long ride, but it’s part of the baseball game.”
Woodbridge lost a coin flip to be the home team for the semifinal.
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com
