St. John Bosco wins first CIF baseball championship
St. John Bosco manager Andy Rojo hoists the championship trophy as players cheer after their game against Santa Margarita in the championship game of the CIF-SS Division 1 baseball playoffs at Cal State Fullerton on Friday, May 30. St. John Bosco defeated Santa Margarita, 3-2, in nine innings. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
After losing in the CIF title game last season, the St. John Bosco Braves made it back to the CIF-Southern Section D1 Championship game and won its first title in program history with a 3-2 walk off victory in nine innings over Santa Margarita Friday (May 30) at Cal State Fullerton.
With the win, the No. 1 Seed Braves (28-4) host No. 5 Seed Villa Park (25-7) Thursday (June 5) in the D1 CIF-State So Cal Regional Semifinal.
The game is a rematch of the CIF-SS D1 Quarterfinals, where Bosco defeated Villa Park in extra innings.
After each team had chances to score late in the game, the Braves loaded the bases and junior center fielder Miles Clark hit a solid single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth inning to end the three-hour plus title game before a standing room only crowd.
The win was special for those on the team last season that suffered a walk off loss to Beckman in the D3 Final. However, the Braves went on to win a CIF-State So Cal Regional Championship.
“It feels amazing,” said Clark, of his championship winning hit. “I just play for these guys. I felt it and I trusted in my coaches, and I can’t even describe it.”
Clark transferred from Servite last season and said, “Ever since I’ve been here, my teammates have been there for me, and I can’t even describe it when they all came out to celebrate.”
Braves second-year coach Andy Rojo, who went through the heartbreak championship loss last season, said of the historical win. “It was indescribable,” he said. “First off, I just commend (coach) Chris Malec and Santa Margarita. I have so much respect for what he’s built. When I first took the (Bosco) job, it was like a model high school club that I wanted to build these guys into.
“You hate to see a loser (Friday) in a game like this. The is the first CIF Baseball Championship in school history and these guys just fought all year long.
“We got walked-off last year and it’s almost like we got rewarded and now things are even.”
Santa Margarita left a runner on third in the sixth inning and on second in the eighth inning, but the big play in the top of the ninth for the Braves was a twisting catch by Miles Clark with a runner on base.
“I saw him catch the ball out of nowhere,” said reliever Jack Champlin, of the catch. “I got so happy for him and for our team. It was a big moral booster and then I ended up getting out of the inning. I just gave him a big hug in the dugout.”
Champlin, who transferred last year from Long Beach Poly, talked about last years’ walk-off loss to Beckman.
“Last year I was watching (Beckman) dog pile on the field right in front of me and I had a lot of mixed emotions about that,” said Champlin, of the 2024 championship loss. “I didn’t want that to happen again.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Bosco opened with another leadoff batter reaching base in extra innings. Freshman second/third baseman Aaron Garcia, who reached base on an error to start the ninth inning against Villa Park in the quarterfinals, hit a single to left. After an out, he advanced to second on an intentional walk to junior designated hitter Jaden Jackson and another walk by junior first baseman Moises Razo to load the bases for Miles Clark.
Garcia came home with the winning run this time and came home with the go-ahead run in the quarterfinals against Villa Park.
“When I got on base, we had our best three hitters up to bat, so I knew I was going to score and I knew they’ll do the job,” said Garcia, of the game-winning hit against Santa Margarita.
Bosco’s first two runs came in the first inning when James Clark opened the inning with a triple to right, a walk by Jackson and a two-run by double by Razo, scoring both runners.
Santa Margarita cut the lead in half with an RBI double by junior second baseman Brody Schumaker to right center, scoring senior third baseman Lucas Owens, who reached on an infield error.
The Eagles tied the game, 2-2, in the fifth when senior designated hitter Carter Enoch scored.
Braves’ junior starting pitcher Gavin Cervantes went 31/3rd innings, allowing a run, followed by freshman Brayden Krakowski, who allowed the other run.
In came Champlin in the sixth, who stranded an Eagles runner at third and retired the next six batters before a single to left by Eagles center fielder Andre Owens. Champlin, who was the winner in the game and got a save in both the quarterfinal and semifinal games, pitched the last four innings for the win, allowing no runs, one hit and four Ks.
“He’s just built differently and wired differently, and he loves those moments,” Rojo said. “He’s one of those guys that backed it up.”
Bosco advances in So Cal Regional with 2-1 win
In the opening game of the So Cal Regional, the Braves defeated St. Augustine, 2-1 and were led by junior James Clark with three hits. a run scored and a stolen base.
St. Augustine opened the game with a run in the first inning and the only other scoring were both runs by the Braves in the third inning.
What they said:
Macade Maxwell, St; John Bosco junior right fielder: “It’s crazy how the game of baseball is. One year we lose on a walk off and this year we win on a walk off. It’s just a surreal moment.
Last year we came in with the motto that we just didn’t want to be the football and basketball school. We wanted people to remember us.”
Moises Razo, St. John Bosco junior first baseman: “It’s amazing and a good feeling. In my freshman year, we went 1-14 and I will never forget that feeling.
It was a good game, and we just won. I felt really good this game.”