The forgotten team in the Moore League reminded everyone Wednesday that it’s still around.
Ryan Hare pitched a nine-inning complete game gem as Lakewood hit the road and beat Newbury Park, 1-0, in a Division 1 wild-card game. Hare allowed just three hits and a walk while striking out 10 to advance the Lancers to a first round game Friday against Fountain Valley.
The Lancers, the perennial Moore League power, struggled through a 6-6 league season and needed a solid second half to avoid a sub-.500 finish.
Hare came into the season the most experienced pitcher on the team, but more attention went to Nick Reeser and Austin Colvin as potential aces.
All Hare did was go 6-2 with a 1.78 ERA during the regular season.
The win was the 800th in the illustrious career of head coach Spud O’Neil.
Jordan exits from postseason
The best season in a decade for the Panthers came to an end with a wild-card loss to Orange County power Anaheim Canyon, 11-2.
Tristan Martinez, who suffered a nonthrowing shoulder injury in the season finale, walked five and was victimized by unearned runs.
Jordan was without ace pitcher Michael Hurtado, who was shut down by coach Roger Penticoff late in the season with an elbow strain. The Panthers were shut out five times in the second half of the season in the pitching rich Moore League.
Los Al bows out
The Los Alamitos boys tennis team run in the Division 1 playoffs came to an end Wednesday when it ran up against perennial champ University.
The Trojans, 21-0, took a 14-4 win to advance to the finals, where they will be looking for their fifth consecutive title and seventh in the past eight seasons.
University hasn’t lost a dual match since 2009, when it dropped the title game.
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