Capo Valley Christian's Title Hopes Go Down Hard

By Martin Henderson

They had blown through the competition at an alarming rate of efficiency. Capistrano Valley Christian had pitched well and had hit beyond belief on its way to the Southern Section Division 6 title game. 

But despite all the offense in four playoff victories, the third-seeded Eagles limped away from the Championship dominated by Morgan Earman and top-seeded Bermuda Dunes Desert Christian, 10-0. 

it was a stunning outcome. 

CVC had outscored its opponents 57-7 in the playoffs and had scored fewer than 10 runs only three times in its last 13 games. The Eagles hadn't been shut out all season.

Until the biggest game of the year.

CVC (24-9) managed only two hits against Earman, who struck out nine, hit a batter, and faced only two batters over the minimum as Desert Christian improved to 29-2.

Desert Christian did a great job of putting the ball in play, and putting it where no one was standing. It pieced together 11 hits, and got three runs batted in apiece from sophomores Chris Palmer and Donny Roethler, and two RBIs from freshman Kenny Gagnon.

Marshall Webb and Drew Helmstadter also drove in runs.

Desert Christian had outscored its playoff opponents, 31-7, before hanging 10 on the Capo Valley Christian. They closed the season on a 15-game winning streak.

Despite the lack of offense, the Eagles still had a puncher's chance heading into the latter innings if they could just catch a break against Earman. They were down 4-0, but gave up six runs in the top of the sixth inning. With Earman cruising, the puncher's chance hit the floor. Hard.

This is the second year in a row Coach Clemente Bonilla's team has lost in the finals. It was defeated a year ago by Lancaster Desert Christian, 4-2. This year, same school name, different city.

Earman has a fastball that has been clocked at more than 90 mph, and the only person who had an answer for him was Aaron Anast.

Anast, batting .460 heading into the game, had both of his team's hits.

Anast (9-4) also started the game on the mound. He struggled with control, walking four, and gave up four hits; he was tagged for two runs in the first and another in the third before departing in favor of sophomore D.J. Sutorius, who gave up a run in the fourth during his three innings of work.

Then came the sixth inning, and the aptly named Conquerors put the finishing touches on their championship season.