From STAFF REPORTS In a lengthy conversation Tuesday night with Maranatha skipper Matt Shupper this writer and the MHS coach agreed that adjectives and superlatives used to describe Dawson Netz have all been used before. He’s literally having almost as good a season as any pitcher could possibly have, and yet he added to the […]
From STAFF REPORTS
In a lengthy conversation Tuesday night with Maranatha skipper Matt Shupper this writer and the MHS coach agreed that adjectives and superlatives used to describe Dawson Netz have all been used before.
He’s literally having almost as good a season as any pitcher could possibly have, and yet he added to the folklore on Tuesday night with a 4-0 shutout at Redlands in the CIF-SS Division 3 semifinals.
Netz improved to 11-0 and lowered his ERA to 0.27 by going all seven innings and surrendering just two hits in a 92-pitch outing.
It’s his sixth shutout, and since his CIF-record 59-inning scoreless streak was snapped in the fifth inning against Palos Verdes in the first round of the playoffs, Netz is currently riding a16-inning consecutive scoreless wave.
The junior right hander walked three, which is a lot for him, but he did fan nine.
What made his afternoon even better was going 3 for 4 at the plate, and he scored once.
Well, check that.
There was another impressive stat Netz and his teammates combined on.
Maranatha handed Marcus Zofrea just his second loss of the season.
The Terriers junior entered the game 11-1 with a 0.51 ERA and MHS got two runs on seven hits off Zofrea over three innings.
Max Blessinger became the area’s first member of the incredible 50-hit club with his 3 for 4 effort Tuesday.
The area’s top hitter also scored one run and drove in another.
Brock Vradenburg went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Casey Popham singled, walked and scored for MHS and Dante Campione also had one single in four at-bats.
Luke Watson went 1 for 2 with an RBI.
Nick Iverson walked twice and the MHS shortstop scored a run out of the No. 2 spot in the MHS lineup.
Brian Landon had both of Redlands’ two hits, including a double, but Netz shut the door on everyone else.
Maranatha and La Salle will meet up Saturday in Riverside with a time to be determined today (Wednesday) at CIF.
It is believed to be the first time the two Pasadena schools will meet for a CIF championship in any sport.
Maranatha has now won 19 consecutive games, which is one more than the Lancers (18-10) have won this season.
Lastly, when asking Netz was grade he would give himself for that effort, he said a B-plus, because he was a little frustrated in not throwing as many first-pitch strikes as he would have liked.
Quotable:
Maranatha coach Matt Shupper: “I have run out of things to say about Dawson, because he is just that good and has been incredibly consistent for us. He is a true big-game player every day. His competitiveness both on the mound and at the plate really make this guy who he is. Max had a really good day at the plate and the guys all played well. We are very excited to have a chance to win a CIF championship for our school.”
Maranatha pitcher Dawson Netz: “I felt good out there and was pretty happy with what I did, but I didn’t have as many first-pitch strikes as I would have liked, but we got the job done. The defense played pretty well behind me. I thought we could have run the bases better, but we beat a very good team today and we get a chance to play for a CIF title and that’s what we’ve all worked so hard for.”
Box Score:
Maranatha: 1-1-0-1-1-0-0-(4)
Redlands: 0-0-0-0-0-0-0-(0)
Win: Dawson Netz (11-0)
Loss: Marcus Zofrea (11-2)
2B: Brian Landon (R)
Records: Maranatha (26-4); Redlands (23-8)
