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LONG BEACH — Crespi’s Chris Arce was on second base when pinch-hitter Sean Sapp hit a dribbling ground ball back to South Hills pitcher Matt Moreno. Arce took off running with two outs, but when he saw Moreno’s throw to first base off the mark, he hit another gear.
“My eyes lit up and I knew we were champs,” Arce said.
Arce rounded third base and scampered home to score the winning run and give Crespi a dramatic 6-5 walk-off victory over South Hills in the bottom of the seventh inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 final at Blair Field.
It is Crespi’s third CIF title victory in four all-time appearances and first crown since 2009.
South Hills starting pitcher Sterling Patick threw 113 pitches in six innings, allowed just two hits and struck out nine, but due to pitch-count rules he had to come out of the game. The Huskies turned to Joseph Moreno to get three more outs and seal their victory with a 5-2 lead heading into the final inning.
“We knew we were going to face a real quality pitcher,” Crespi coach Mike Glendenning said. “Our goal was to grind out at-bats, wear (Patick) down and get into their bullpen.”
“It took us a little longer than we wanted to,” Glendenning added laughing.
Ethan Kodama – Cal commit – hits a two-run RBI up the middle to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the 7th.
The Kodamas are going nuts (end of video). Sister Miye, Mother (blonde hair yelling), and Father (brown hat clapping). pic.twitter.com/VCykIpKzun
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 20, 2023
Crespi’s Joshua Rodriguez started the seventh with a base hit before Joseph Moreno walked Isais Tirado. Diego Velasquez’s RBI single brought Crespi’s deficit to 5-3 with no outs. Ethan Kodama then hit a two-run single up the middle to tie the game at 5-5.
“The bases were loaded. Situationally, I’m just thinking to put the ball in play,” Kodama said of the at-bat. “I’d been seeing the ball well all day … Credit to our guys for getting on base ahead of me. I’m just so happy.”
South Hills (24-7) changed pitchers after Kodama’s hit, going to Matt Moreno, who was able to get one out before Sapp’s dribbler prompted Arce’s mad dash home and the celebration ensued for the Celts (20-7-3).
It’s bedlam in Long Beach. Unreal finish.
Crespi wins 6-5 on a walk-off error that allows a runner to scamper home for the win from an errand throw to first base. South Hills held a 5-2 lead heading into the 7th.
Crespi wins the CIF Division 2 title. Scott Muckey is smiling. pic.twitter.com/46oeO04i8Y
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 20, 2023
The game lasted three hours, and for most of the afternoon it was looking like South Hills was going to lift its seventh CIF title.
Glendenning had to use a mound visit after just three South Hills batters to speak with Crespi starter Isaiah Magdaleno, who gave up a single and two walks to start the game.
South Hills’ Noah Malone swung at Magdaleno’s first pitch after the visit for a three-run double. To make matters worse, a blooper to shallow right field was mishandled, which helped the Huskies create a 4-0 lead in the opening inning.
“We got punched in the mouth,” Glendenning said. “But we reciprocated.”
Magdaleno went just three innings, allowed four hits, three earned runs and struck out four. He was replaced by Nicholas Kougher, who threw 1 1/3 innings and allowed three hits and allowed one earned run.
It was 6-foot-4 sophomore Tyler Walton who provided much-needed relief for the Celts. He went the final 2 2/3 innings, allowed just one hit, walked none and struck out three.
“We’ve been here before,” Kodama said of the comeback performance. “We were down against Aquinas (in the semifinal) and we won. Our team talks about belief all the time. We believe. We believed in each other.”
Crespi coach Mike Glendenning gets his championship shower. pic.twitter.com/RV9IQaQQKt
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 20, 2023
Crespi’s slogan is “Celt Pride.” The north side of Blair Field’s stands were blanketed in different shades of brown, white and yellow – the school’s colors – and on hand were several former players, school alumni and faculty.
Kodama, a senior headed to Cal, clearly understands the deeper meaning of what Saturday’s victory means.
“Coach Mike (Glendenning), a Crespi alum, deserves this. All of Crespi deserves this. All the alumni deserve this,” Kodama said. “I’m just happy I could deliver for the people that laid the path before me.”
Crespi will have a week off before participating in the CIF State SoCal Regional playoffs, which begin May 30.
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