TORREY TOPS RB, ON TO SOCAL FINAL
With three key seniors choosing to end their seasons early, Torrey Pines High baseball coach Tommy Simis turned to sophomore reliever Peyton Rodgers in Thursday’s Southern California Division II semifinal against Rancho Bernardo on a cold, overcast, windy day at Torrey Pines.
No stranger to the mound, Rodgers was, however, making his first start of the season.
All he did was throw a complete-game, 74-pitch, six-hit, 1-0 shutout, propelling the No. 2-seeded Falcons (22-12) into Saturday’s 4 p.m. championship game at No. 1 Etiwanda.
Making his 19th appearance of the season, Rodgers — a right-hander — hadn’t pitched more than five innings in a game … and that was just once.
“I was dragging a little in the seventh,” Rodgers said. “But I had to grind it out. Rancho Bernardo (21-13) is a great hitting team.
“We’re a little shorthanded, so it was up to me to give us a chance, give us some innings.”
Simis said pitchers Eric Van Valkenberg and Zach Isaacman, who together have 10 wins, and outfielder Cole Wilson decided to leave the team after the San Diego Section playoffs.
“So it’s kind of next man up for our hardy little group,” Simis said. “I couldn’t be more proud of Peyton. He was so good. He was able to spin his slider on any count — 3-1, 3-2. And he has an excellent fastball. He had to get their 3-4-5 guys in the seventh, and got it done. He has ice in his veins.”
Rodgers got the first two outs in the seventh, but Cameron Rowe doubled into the right-field corner to give RB life.
He, however, got the next batter on a popup to second.
“I’ve never had a better breaking ball than I did today,” Rodgers said. “I was able to slow things down. Stay in a zone.”
Rodgers improved to 2-3 on the season, but in 41 innings, his ERA is 0.85. He has 45 strikeouts and has walked just nine.
The Falcons got him the only run he needed in the fifth.
Chase Blease ledoff with a single and was sacrificed to second by Jake Tracey. Gavin Strup reached on an error with Blease taking third.
Liam Kelly, batting ninth in the order, laid down a perfect bunt with Blease scoring.
RB starter Brady Dockan, who was also brilliant, was injured on the play and had to leave the game.
“It was a safety squeeze,” Kelly said. “I’m normally a good bunter, so I wasn’t surprised to get the sign. I just needed to get it down, someplace where the pitcher had to move off the mound and handle it.”
Division II: No. 1 seeded Eastlake lost 8-2 to No. 5 Newport Harbor. And No. 6 Grossmont lost 4-2 to No. 2 Oaks Christian. Because Oaks Christian was graduating Thursday night, Grossmont was forced to play at 11 a.m. after a threehour, 175-mile trip.