Yahoo Sports Regional playoffs: Kevin Jeon hits two home runs to power La Mirada into Division I final
The Southern California regionals in high school baseball is more than just a final tournament in 2024. It can be a sneak peek at 2025, and that's the case for La Mirada, which received two home runs from junior Kevin Jeon, including a grand slam, and a two-run home run from junior Maverek Russell, to defeat Huntington Beach 10-8 on Thursday to advance to the Division I championship game.
La Mirada will play Orange Lutheran at Hart Park in the final Saturday.
Junior Jason Rodriguez allowed one run in 4 1/3 innings of relief after Huntington Beach scored six runs in the first inning.
Junior Aiden Aguayo had three hits. Jeon finished with three hits and five RBIs.
Read more: Regional playoffs: Orange Lutheran, Santa Margarita to meet in semifinals
Orange Lutheran 3, Santa Margarita 0: Sophomore Gary Morse threw a one-hit shutout with five strikeouts to help the top-seeded Lancers reach the Division I final. Derek Curiel had two hits.
Moorpark 6, Ayala 3: The Musketeers earned a spot in the Division II final against top-seeded Bakersfield Liberty. Greg Lareva finished with three hits. Derek Nickels threw five scoreless innings to start the game.
St. John Bosco 5, Birmingham 0: Sophomore pitcher Julian Garcia was in dominating form to help the top-seeded Braves advance to the Division III championship game. He struck out 10 in a complete-game performance. Micah Taguiam had two hits and Noah Everly contributed a two-run single. St. John Bosco will host Bakersfield Christian, a 3-1 winner over Point Loma.
Softball
Etiwanda 1, Granada Hills 0: Cameryn Ortega outdueled Addison Moorman to lift Etiwanda into the Division II championship game. Ortega struck out seven, walked none and gave up three hits. Gisselle Peraza's third-inning home run was the difference. Eitwanda will play at top-seeded Chula Vista Mater Dei on Saturday. Mater Dei defeated King 12-2.
Chatsworth 10, Bell 0: The Chancellors advanced to the Division V final.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
