Southern Section 3-A Playoffs : El Toro Freshman Throws a 3-Hitter

Rob Johnson pitched a 3-hitter Tuesday to lead El Toro High School to a 3-1 victory over Estancia in the second round of the Southern Section 3-A baseball playoffs at Estancia.

El Toro, a wild-card entrant, plays Santa Clara in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Johnson, a freshman, is 3-5 overall, 2-0 in the playoffs.

“The kid’s only 14 years old,” El Toro Coach Dan DeLeon said. “He’s going to make me a heck of a coach. . . . Nothing unnerves him.”

Well, almost nothing.

Johnson did have some trouble, in the fifth inning.

After getting Estancia center fielder Mark Hartley to fly out, Johnson gave up a base hit to David Westman, then walked Mike Lewis and Kent French. Dan Dougherty had an RBI single for Estancia’s only run.

“I started to lose my control a bit,” Johnson said. “I wasn’t able to concentrate very well.”

After a chat on the mound with DeLeon, Johnson regrouped and didn’t allow a hit for the remainder of the game. He struck out three.

That included striking out freshman designated hitter Paul McDaniels for the final out.

McDaniels, who hit a three-run home run off La Quinta ace Mike Wilson to give Estancia an upset victory over the top-seeded Aztecs Friday, failed to get a hit Tuesday.

Was Johnson the least bit intimidated by McDaniels?

“Nope,” Johnson said. “He’s a freshman, just like me.”

El Toro gained a 1-0 lead in the first inning on doubles by second baseman Brian McNamara and shortstop Sean Drinkwater.

El Toro made it 3-0 in the fourth when Drinkwater scored on a single by Tim Jurkowski, who then scored on a three-base error by right fielder Sean Nichols. Nichols ran in to field Jurkowski’s ball, but it bounced under his glove.

Conrad Colby (7-4) went the distance for Estancia. Colby gave up 8 hits, struck out 7 and walked none in a losing effort.

“Colby’s a tough competitor,” DeLeon said. “We’ve had 28 hits in the last two games (victories over Trabuco Hills and and Arroyo). But today, well, it’s back to the drawing board.”

McNamara went 3 for 4 with a double, and Drinkwater went 2 for 3 with an RBI for El Toro.

Estancia finished 17-10.

Saddleback 9, Coachella Valley 2--Pitcher Sean Therien (7-3) scattered 3 singles, struck out 6 and gave just two unearned runs to lead Saddleback (21-6). Neil Carter hit a 2-run homer in the first inning. Right fielder George Saldana had 3 hits and Therien 2.

California 3, Pacifica 2--California scored three runs in the seventh inning to advance to Friday’s quarterfinals. Pacifica finishes 18-8.