Pacifica Christian Baseball Reaches Semifinals

There was still a chance that two Santa Monica schools could meet for the CIF Southern Section Division 7 baseball championship. That is, until Friday night.

New Roads School, the No. 1 seed in the 32-team bracket, was upset by Animo Leadership 13-8 in the quarterfinals Friday, but Pacifica Christian earned a spot in the semifinals with an 11-4 victory over Riverside Prep. 

The Seawolves (12-5), champions of the Heritage League, will host Harbor League champion Firebaugh of Lynwood next Tuesday for a berth in the finals Saturday at noon at UC Riverside.

The third-seeded Falcons (18-7) beat Nuview Bridge of Nuevo 8-1 in the quarterfinals.

New Roads, meanwhile, carried a six-game winning streak into Inglewood for its quarterfinal matchup against Animo Leadership (20-5), which finished second to Firebaugh in the Harbor League.

The Jaguars (18-6), who finished undefeated in the Coastal League this spring, were eliminated by Pacifica Christian 7-4 in the quarterfinals last season.

The Pacifica Christian-Firebaugh semifinal will be played at North Venice Little League located at 3321 North Grande View Blvd. in Los Angeles. Game time is 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

Seawolves pilot Julian Chavez was named the Heritage League's Coach of the Year. Junior infielder and pitcher Kevin Hammer was voted co-Most Valuable Player and teammates Austin Cortina (a senior pitcher/shortstop) and junior outfielder Athen Shelp also made the first team.

Making the second team were junior catcher/pitcher Keenan Pierandozzi-Howes and freshman first baseman/pitcher Tucie Shelp.