A familiar look for AAA title game

In the past 26 years, Washington or Lowell has won all but three of the San Francisco Section title games at the home of the Giants.

That will continue Wednesday, when the two teams play for the championship at 3:30 p.m. at AT&T Park.

Lowell (21-8) is after its fifth straight crown, which would match the record streak Balboa put together from 1981 through ’85. Lowell has won 21 SFS/ AAA titles and Washington 10.

“Five straight,” Lowell head coach Daryl Semien said. “That’s been the goal and focus since Day 1. We’re right where we want to be.”

Washington (16-9) is back where it had been — in the title game — for 18 consecutive years under coach Rob Fung before struggling last season.

Second-year head coach Brian Jesson — who had been an assistant to Fung since 2001 — had a strong feeling his team would rebound after a 7-18 season in his first year.

Senior shortstop Kai Moody (.361 average) and junior infielder Aaron Mui (.338, team-leading 23 RBIs) lead the Washington offense.

Jesson didn’t disclose his starting pitcher, but he has three pitchers from whom to choose: 6-foot-4 senior Declan Lloyd (3-1, 1.50 ERA) and juniors Vegas Wernette (4-1, 2.10 ERA) and Franklin Pilarte (4-1, 2.28).

Lowell will counter with either Pacific commit Joe Solomon (7-3, 1.70) or junior Alex Bradshaw (6-0, 0.29) and a healthy lineup that includes junior catcher Owen Mahoney, a third-year starter who is hitting .423 with team bests of eight doubles and 26 RBIs.

Lloyd and Pilarte combined on a three-hitter to beat Lowell 4-1 on March 16, but the Cardinals beat Washington twice in the last week of the regular season, 2-1 and 6-2, to clinch the round-robin crown.

“It’s great to get to AT&T, and we’re completely appreciative to the Giants for allowing us to play there,” Jesson said, “but it sure feels better to win there than lose.”