St. John Bosco wins CIF Regional So Cal Championship
St. John Bosco head coach Andy Rojo and infielder James Clark hold the CIF Division 1 State Southern Regional Championship plaque after their win on Saturday. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
BELLFLOWER — St. John Bosco’s third baseman/reliever Jack Champlin remembers Beckman High School celebrating and dog piling right in front of him last season to win a CIF Championship in a walk-off in extra innings.
Fast forward a year and the junior and his teammates now are CIF Champions and can now say they are back-to-back CIF-Southern California Regional Champions.
The Braves defeated Patrick Henry of San Diego, 4-0, Saturday (June 7) at their home field in Bellflower before a packed house in the DI final.
Just over a week earlier, Bosco won its first CIF D1 title, 3-2, in extra innings over Santa Margarita at Cal State Fullerton.
“I was playing short and the way we lost was kind of heart breaking,” said Champlin, of the loss against Beckman last year. “They walked it off and I was right in front of the mound and they ended up dog piling five feet from me. It kind of gets me going and the team going and we didn’t want that stuff to happen again. We were going to do whatever it took to get the win.
”Last year, from losing a CIF Championship and coming back was special.”
Champlin remembers that moment vividly and said recently while at a tournament in Arizona, “
Not only did the Braves win playoff games after the loss to Beckman loss, but they have currently reeled off 10 consecutive playoff wins, which included four shutouts. In the Regional championship last season, they had a walk-off win over Bakersfield Christian on a balk.
This past season, Bosco won 26 of its last 28 games, winched included a 19-game winning streak to end the season.
The Braves had a first round bye this year in CIF D1, then defeated Vista Murrieta, 5-4, in the second round, Villa Park, 4-3 (9 Inn.), the Nation’s No. 1 team Corona, 2-0, in the semifinals and Santa Margarita in the championship.
In the D1 Regionals they defeated St. Augustine of San Diego ,2-1 in the first round, Villa Park, 7-4 in the Regional Semifinals, 7-4, and Patrick Henry in the championship.
“I’m happy for our seniors who have been here all four years,” St. John Bosco second year coach Andy Rojo said. “To do it at D1, the highest level, winning division one is tough.
“I just keep going back to the players. We inherited a team that was 1-14 and two years later we had won two titles.”
In the win over Patrick Henry, junior shortstop James Clark led the way with two hits, which included a double, triple, an RBI and a stolen base.
Said James Clark of the championship, “It was pretty awesome,” he said. “Just going on this run was great. I knew it was a special group, and these were our goals to win. We expect much of the same next year.”
Brayden Krakowski, who was a reliever during the season, started and won the championship game, going 4 2/3 innings. The freshman scattered four hits, including a double, walk and one strikeout. He finished the season with a perfect 5-0 record.
“They gave the ball to the freshman (Krakowski) and he gave the ball to me,” said Champlin, of the final game. “I felt relaxed and calm. This year I’ve been in the moment, and it makes everything easier.”
The Braves did their scoring early, with two in the first and second innings.
James Clark opened the first inning with a triple to right field, followed by a walk to junior designated hitter and UCLA commit, Jaden Jackson (1 for 2, RBI, walk). Clark came home with the first run of the game on a single to left field by junior left fielder Noah Everly (1 for 2, R, RBI, walk).
“Being a leadoff hitter, I have an obligation,” James Clark said. “It was expected to get that first win in a game like that,” he said.
Everly eventually came home on a single to left by James Clark’s twin brother, Myles Clark, to lead, 2-0.
After Krakowski retired the side in the top of the second, senior right fielder Macade Maxwell (Holy Cross commit) reached first on an infield single to third in the bottom half, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Aaron Garcia and came home with the third run on a double to left field by James Clark.
With two outs in the inning, Jackson singled home Clark for the 4-0 lead.
Over the final five innings, Patrick Henry only managed two singles and a double.
Champlin relieved Krakowski and proceeded to finish his seventh game of the playoffs, pitching the final 2 1/3 innings with no hits and struck out three batters.
“Jack suffered a shoulder injury about a month ago and was off for about three weeks and came back in time for the playoffs and closed out every single playoff game,” Rojo said. “He’s a big time kid and big time competitor and literally wants the ball. When you have a kid that wants the ball, you put the ball in his hand. (Champlin) had the ball in every single playoff game.”
Champlin was 5-1 this past season.
Leading the Braves this past season was James Clark with 46 hits, a .411 average and 15 stolen bases. Everly had 29 hits, a .330 average and was 4-0 on the mound, while junior right hander Gavin Cervantes led the Braves with an 8-0 record.
Assisting Rojo this past season was Alvin Graham, Norm Hebert, Christian Lara, Rodney Davis, Lauren Green and Ruben Hernandez.
Another player who has committed to college for the Braves is junior first baseman Moises Razo, who is headed to Fresno State.
“Credit to pitching coach Hernandez in the 34 games for a 1.26 ERA,” Rojo added. “All of our coaches have a tremendous amount of experience.”
Champlin echoed Rojo, saying, “Our team ERA was amazing this year,” he said.
On the celebration that he didn’t get in that first title game last season, Champlin remembers the latest one, saying “When we got the last out, we ended up dog piling. Just the feeling was amazing.”
Another player who has committed to college for the Braves is junior first baseman Moises Razo, who is headed to Fresno State.