Derek Curiel #4 of Orange Lutheran holds up the championship plaque. Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
ORANGE – Orange Lutheran baseball has enjoyed many great moments, including league championships, winning National High School Invitational championships and big top-division playoff wins.
But the Lancers’ program never had a championship plaque or trophy with the initials “CIF” on it.
That changed Saturday.
Orange Lutheran beat La Mirada 7-6 in the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game at Hart Park.
Orange Lutheran bench runs onto the field after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Derek Curiel #4 of Orange Lutheran holds up the championship plaque defeating La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Evan Wiley #16 of Orange Lutheran looks on as Kevin Jeon #17 of La Mirada slides in for a run in the first inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Aiden Aguayo #22 of La Mirada stole third base when Wyatt Hanoian #35 of Orange Lutheran could not make the tag in the first inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Wyatt Hanoian #35 of Orange Lutheran does not get the throw at third base in time to catch Aiden Aguayo #22 of La Mirada in the first inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Finnegan Stewart #17 of Orange Lutheran is forced out at second base while Bear Calvo #21 of La Mirada throws to first in the sixth inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Kaden Corns #1 of La Mirada pitches in the second inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Josiah Hartshorn #27 of Orange Lutheran congratulates Vinny Hudson #2 for scoring a run in the first inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Wyatt Hanoian #35 of Orange Lutheran is congratulated by Vinny Hudson #2 after crossing the plate in the second inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Travis Friend #25 of La Mirada catches a fly ball in left field. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Luke Armijo #34 of La Mirada pitches in the first inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Aiden Aguayo #22 of La Mirada is safe at second in the firth inning when Hamilton Friedberg #14 of Orange Lutheran gets the throw late. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Aiden Aguayo #22 of La Mirada is safe at third base when Wyatt Hanoian #35 of Orange Lutheran lost the ball in the fifth inning. Orange Lutheran defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Evan Wiley #16 of Orange Lutheran and pitcher Ross Clark #5 of celebrate after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Derek Curiel #4 of Orange Lutheran holds up the championship plaque. Orange Lutheran celebrates after they defeated La Mirada in the Division I championship game for the CIF Southern California Region on June 1, 2024 in Orange, CA. (Photo by John McCoy, Contributing Photographer)
Orange Lutheran coach Eric Borba, in his 16th season as the team’s coach, was joyful and relieved.
“A lot of people have put in a lot of work for the 16 years that I’ve been head coach,” Borba said. “To finally get one and hang a banner in the gym that these boys can come out to see and be proud of is pretty darn special.”
The Lancers fell behind 2-0 in the first inning.
They then scored five runs in the bottom half of the inning, thanks in part to a three-run double by Finnegan Stewart, and added two runs in the second for a 7-2 lead.
La Mirada scored a run in the top of the sixth inning, scored three in the top of the seventh to make it 7-6 and had the tying run on second base when Orange Lutheran senior right-hander Ross Clark struck out the final batter to secure the win.
Aiden Aguayo was the Matadors runners on second base. He hit a two-out double off of the left-field wall, a drive that would have cleared the fence at many high school fields that have smaller dimensions, to drive in Kevin Jeon for the team’s third run of the inning.
La Mirada coach Jimmy Zurn also noted the impact of the strong onshore breeze at the Hart Park baseball field.
“We’re a wind-blowing-in away from tying this game,” said Zurn.
La Mirada lost to Orange Lutheran 9-4 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals on May 10. The Matadores, who were Gateway League champions, finished 25-8.
Orange Lutheran (27-7) won the Trinity League championship and won three CIF-SS playoff games before losing to Harvard-Westlake 4-2 in the semifinals. In the regional playoffs they beat Cathedral Catholic 9-3 in the first round and Santa Margarita 3-0 in the semifinals.
Postgame with Orange Lutheran senior left fielder Finnegan Stewart who hit a three-run double in the Lancer’ 7-6 win over La Mirada in the CIF Southern California Regional Division I championship game … pic.twitter.com/XklgNndAph
La Mirada took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Jeon hit a triple into the right-center field gap. He scored when Aguayo reached on an error, and Aguayo scored on a ground out.
Wyatt Hanoian walked to start the Lancers’ half of the first inning. Josiah Hartshorn singled and Brady Murrietta walked to load the bases, and Vinny Hudson singled to drive in Hanoian for Orange Lutheran’s first run.
Stewart launched a deep drive to left-center field to drive in Hartshorn, Murrietta and Hudson to put the Lancers on top 4-2.
Stewart said he got a tip from Orange Lutheran hitting coach Derek Evans that a change-up was coming from La Mirada’s starting pitcher, freshman left-hander Luke Armijo.
“I saw it, he hung it, I hammered it,” Stewart said.
Stewart eventually scored on Hamilton Friedberg’s sacrifice fly for a 5-2 lead.
In the Lancers’ two-run second inning Hartshorn’s sacrifice fly sent home Evan Wiley for one run and Murrietta’s sacrifice fly drove in Hanoian for the second run to get the Lancers a 7-2 lead.
Two Orange Lutheran errors enabled Aguayo to score in the sixth inning.
Then came La Mirada’s three-run rally in the seventh that ended with Clark’s strikeout to start the Orange Lutheran celebration.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” said Stewart, a senior. “We’ve been trying to do this for so long. Just to go out on a note like this is incredible.”
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