SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO >> Pitcher Kaden Giles continued his dominant season Friday by leading the San Clemente baseball team to a 6-1 win over San Juan Hills in a Sea View League game at San Juan Hills High.
The senior allowed one run and four hits over 6 1/3 innings and struck out four. The win was his sixth of the season and he has a 1.10 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 38 innings.
San Clemente starting pitcher Kaden Giles throws to a San Juan Hills batter during the third inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente right fielder Chase Brunson leaps to catch a fly ball hit by San Juan Hills??? Kaden Aimer during the sixth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente???s Chase Brunson, center, celebrates with Rhyn Chambers, right, and Sawyer Marquez, left, after scoring during the seventh inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game against San Juan Hills in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente???s Chase Brunson, left, scores as San Juan Hills relief pitcher Nick Tragos, right, can???t make a tag during the seventh inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills second baseman Jackson McKay, right, relays to first as San Clemente???s Chase Brunson declares he is safe at second base, as both Brunson and Vinnie Kane, at first, are safe on a fielder???s choice during the first inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente???s Rhyn Chambers, center, and Nolan Reid celebrate with Brock DellaVedova, left, for scoring from second base on a base hit during the second inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game against San Juan Hills in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente Vinnie Kane throws the ball away to first for an error on a ground ball hit by San Juan Hills??? Jason Fritz during the fifth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills relief pitcher Matthew Fimbres throws to a San Clemente batter during the fifth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente Josh Egner scores on a wild pitch as San Juan Hills relief pitcher Nick Tragos, left, makes the late tag during the sixth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente Josh Egner, right, scores on a wild pitch as San Juan Hills relief pitcher takes the throw from the catcher during the sixth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills shortstop Ethan Wolf dives to stop a ground ball hit by San Clemente???s Vinnie Kane for a fielder???s choice during the first inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills starting pitcher Dane Grant throws to a San Clemente batter during the second inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente starting pitcher Kaden Giles throws to a San Juan Hills batter during the second inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Juan Hills shortstop Ethan Wolf throws out San Clemente Vinnie Kane at first on a ground ball out during the second inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente right fielder Chase Brunson leaps to catch a fly ball hit by San Juan Hills??? Cooper Allen during the fifth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente right fielder Chase Brunson looks for a landing after leaping to catch a fly ball hit by San Juan Hills??? Cooper Allen during the fifth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente right fielder Chase Brunson looks for a landing after leaping to catch a fly ball hit by San Juan Hills??? Cooper Allen during the fifth inning of a Sea View League prep baseball game in San Juan Capistrano, on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
“Kaden is our workhorse,” San Clemente coach Dave Gellatly said. “He’s been doing that for two years and he just battles. When he’s on the mound there is nobody I’d rather have out there.”
The performance followed a rare off day for Giles in an outing against the Stallions on Monday. Giles got the loss and allowed two runs in just three innings of work.
“I feel great about it,” Giles said of his outing Friday. “I gave my team a chance to win and we did it. Fastball and cutter were my main go-to today. It was working.”
San Clemente (13-10, 4-3) lost two games to San Juan Hills earlier in the week, but now it has a 1.5-game lead over the Stallions (14-10, 3-5) for the second place in the league standings behind Trabuco Hills.
The win Friday was the lone win for the Tritons over San Juan Hills this season.
“It’s a big win. We came out the first two games this week a little flat and going through the motions,” Gellatly said. “Today we came out with a little bit of life, which is what we’re going to need if we’re going to have a chance to make the playoffs. Hopefully this will be the game that sets the tone for the rest of the season.”
The Tritons gave Giles plenty of run support. Ryan Dunbar scored on an error in the first inning and sophomore Jake Wood drove in a run with a single in the second inning to give the Tritons a 2-0 lead.
Zach Doyle drove in the lone run of the game for San Juan Hills with a double in the bottom of the fourth inning to cut the lead to 2-1.
Rhyn Chambers responded with a RBI double in the top of the fifth to put San Clemente’s lead back at two runs.
San Clemente added to its lead late in the contest. A run scored on a wild pitch and Pierce Brown drove in a run with a single. On the same play, Chase Brunson scored on a throwing error to give the Tritons a 6-1 lead.
The Tritons play a three-game series against first-place Trabuco Hills next week. The Tritons beat the Mustangs on a walk-off single by Chambers in the teams’ first matchup on April 1.
