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Hamblin pitches Mater Dei past JSerra, 3-0
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He allows just two hits as the Monarchs wrap up second-place finish in Trinity League.
SANTA ANA - JSerra and Mater Dei went to sleep Monday night ahead of where each had started the day. It just didn't feel that way for JSerra.
Lions coaches learned, before their baseball game at Mater Dei, that Servite had lost to Santa Margarita. As a result, JSerra had clinched a postseason berth, and the only thing at stake this week was a second-place finish in league.
“We decided to tell them (the players) before the game, and it totally backfired,” Lions coach Brett Kay said. “They came out as flat as I've seen.”
Mater Dei junior right-hander Jake Hamblin allowed two hits, a walk and struck out eight, dealing JSerra its first shutout of the season, in a 3-0 victory. The Monarchs (20-6, 10-5) clinched second place, which gives them a chance to start the postseason at home next week. JSerra (17-9, 8-6) will finish third and start the playoffs on the road. (Click here for more game stats)
“This week, we just wanted to make sure pitching and defense were in good shape,” Mater Dei coach Burt Call said.
The Monarchs turned two double plays and caught Christian St. Pierre stealing, as Hamblin inadvertently spoiled a hit-and-run, with a pitch that sailed too far outside. Even when the Lions' Bret Dahlson drilled a line drive off the fence in left, Blake Arthur's throw held him to a single.
JSerra was less sharp. Mental errors helped the Monarchs score a pair of runs, when players failed to cover bases or back up throws.
>> See all scores from Monday's games
Contact the writer: jkay@ocregister.com
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