Baseball: Royal wins Southern California Invitational with 1-0 win

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Simi Valley Royal (5-0) won the championship game of the Southern California Invitational, defeating Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 1-0.

Sophomore Kurt Johnson allowed three hits in five innings. Chris Kovach got the save. JJ Muno had three hits for Notre Dame (4-1), but he left the bases loaded in the seventh. Jesse Aucelluzzo had the game’s only RBI single for Royal.

Placentia Valencia improved to 6-0 after a 7-3 victory over previously unbeaten Ayala. Glendora (4-1) defeated Oak Hills, 15-5. Eric Flores had three hits and four RBIs. Orange Lutheran defeated Huntington Beach, 5-3.

Sophomore Jake Pries had two hits and two RBIs in JSerra’s 2-1 win over Foothill. Quentin Longrie struck out seven and threw a five-hitter. Mission Viejo defeated Beckman, 8-0. Kyle Candalla had three hits. Capistrano Valley defeated Corona, 3-2, to advance to the Newport Elks final.

Moises Ceja struck out 12 in nine shutout innings, but Granada Hills Kennedy was beaten by San Pedro, 1-0, in 10 innings. James Todd threw all 10 innings for San Pedro.

Birmingham defeated North Hollywood, 5-1. Daniel Rivas struck out seven in six innings. Logan Farrell hit a two-run home run. Justin Minor also homered for the Patriots.

Chris Garcia threw a one-hitter in Arleta’s 3-0 win over Sylmar. He also had two hits. Sun Valley Poly defeated Canyon Country Canyon, 4-2. Alex George struck out five in two innings.

Evan Laubacher struck out nine in Ventura’s 8-0 win over Verdugo Hills. Sierra Canyon defeated LACES, 8-1. Brian Tucker had three hits and two RBIs.

Cathedral defeated San Juan Hills, 6-1. Brian Duenas struck out five and walked none. Willie Aguilar, David Sanchez and Duenas each had two hits.

-- Eric Sondheimer