L-R: Marco Martinez, Eddie Lopez, Max Blessinger By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor Just two Pasadena area teams are still standing after last week’s opening round of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs. And both will need road victories if they want to earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Maranatha will head to Alhambra, and Poly will take […]
L-R: Marco Martinez, Eddie Lopez, Max Blessinger
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
Just two Pasadena area teams are still standing after last week’s opening round of the CIF-Southern Section playoffs.
And both will need road victories if they want to earn a spot in the quarterfinals.
Maranatha will head to Alhambra, and Poly will take a long, but scenic drive to Malibu.
Both the Minutemen and Panthers cruised to first round victories on Friday.
CIF Division 4: Maranatha (21-7) at Alhambra (17-11):
Maranatha is coming off an 8-1 victory Friday over Temple City, thanks to a solid effort from sophomore Dawson Netz.
Netz went the distance, didn’t walk a batter, and kept the Rams at bay all game long.
While Maranatha coach Matt Shupper has not officially announced his starter for Tuesday, it is believed that sophomore lefty Charles Acker will have the ball to start the game.
Acker is 7-1 with a stingy 0.81 ERA and has a team-best 63 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.
Maranatha already has two wins this season over Alhambra, and hope the Moors don’t find the third time to be the charm.
The Minutemen have serious depth in their bullpen and could easily go to Trevor Marrs (4-0, 0.85 ERA) or Alex Cornwell (5-2, 2.29 ERA).
Netz (4-3, 0.98 ERA) would likely be able to get a few outs if needed late in the game.
Maranatha’s offense got back to form in the Temple City game.
Eddie Lopez and Max Blessinger both have 40 hits apiece, which is tied for second best in area behind La Salle’s Ethan Patrick, who finished his junior season with 42 hits.
Lopez is hitting .482 and Blessinger upped his average to .449 after three hits on Friday.
Marco Martinez has also been on fire all season.
The junior third baseman is hitting .459 on 34 hits and he’s drive in 25 runs.
“They pitch and play great defense,” Shupper said. “We’ve seen them twice already this season but they are much improved and I think we are too. Will be a good game. We believe in ourselves and know how hard we need to work to move on. We don’t want this season to end and believe we have the ability to advance if we play a great game.”
Matt Loomis (l) and Matt Queen (r)
CIF Division 6: Poly (18-7) at Malibu (12-14):
Poly is coming off a 7-0 victory over Yucca Valley in the their first round game Friday.
Matt Queen went six scoreless and did his part at the plate as well.
Poly said not to underestimate Malibu’s 12-14 record, as the Sharks played a very tough schedule.
Matt Loomis will get the ball from coach Steve Beerman.
Loomis is 10-2, with a 1.68 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
Poly will head to the beach with some serious confidence in their abilities to compete with the Sharks.
“My mind set doesn’t really change. I know that I need to execute pitches and trust my defense to make plays,” Loomis said. “Tomorrow is obviously one of our biggest games of the year, and I strongly feel that our team is up for the challenge.”
Poly is also peaking offensively, especially, Franco Alonso, Matt Queen and Joe Masters.
Queen leads the entire area with a .517 batting average.
He’s the only local player over the .500 mark.
“I feel good. I think we are facing a solid team and it will be a good match up,” Queen said. ” If Loomis keeps the ball down pitching and the offense comes alive like last game, we have a good chance.”
