JSerra's Kurrasch has saving grace vs. Mater Dei

Joe Kurrasch usually gets the ball at the start of the game as JSerra's No. 1 starting pitcher.

However, on Wednesday night, Kurrasch found himself in an unusual position of closer in JSerra's Trinity League game against top-ranked Mater Dei.

“He wanted the ball when we took the lead (in the fifth),” JSerra coach Brett Kay said. “We knew going in that we were going to throw our staff, but if I had a chance, we were going to throw Joe in the end.”

Kurrasch didn't disappoint, pitching the sixth and the seventh innings to record his first save of the season as No. 8 JSerra escaped with a 6-4 victory over the Monarchs.

Kurrasch lost to Mater Dei (12-2, 5-2) on March 20, and Mater Dei also defeated JSerra on Monday, 3-1.

“It was a tough loss to them earlier in the season,” Kurrasch said. “But when we scored those two runs (in the sixth) coach asked me if I wanted the ball and I said of course.”

JSerra (9-5, 5-2) trailed, 4-3, after Aaron Northcraft's three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth.

Northcraft, who is also Mater Dei's No. 1 starter, then took the mound in the sixth to try and protect the lead.

But JSerra had other plans thanks to sophomores Clay Williamson and Austin Hedges.

Williamson's RBI double tied the score at 4-4 and Hedges, who led off the game with a home run, drove in Williamson with a single to give the Lions the lead for good. Both runs were scored against Northcraft.

“He had trouble finding his location,” Mater Dei coach Burt Call said of Northcraft. “He was off a little bit and they capitalized on his mistakes. You have to give them credit, they executed.”

Mater Dei had runners on first and third in the sixth, but Kurrasch retired Northcraft and Brian Frattali.

The Lions then added an insurance run in the seventh inning.

Reed Reilly picked up the victory for the Lions. He entered the game after Northcraft's home run and struck out the side with runners on first and third.

“That was a huge part of the game because if they (Mater Dei) score more runs there, it is a different ballgame,” Kay said. “It was a total team effort.”

In the Beach Pit Tournament:

Fountain Valley 7, Newport Harbor 4: A.J. Cardenalli's bases-loaded, two-run double in the seventh gave the Barons a 5-4 lead in the championship game at Corona del Mar High.

Fountain Valley (8-7) entered the seventh trailing, 4-2.

Cody Morad (3-3) pitched a complete game for the Barons.

In the Empire League:

Pacifica 9, Valencia 5: Trent Chatterton's three-run home run in the fourth helped the Mariners (9-5, 5-2) defeat the Tigers for the second time this week.

Brett Gerritse (5-1) earned the victory for Pacifica. Jed Vandernaald got the save.

The Mariners defeated Valencia, 3-2, on Monday.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@ocregister.com