ANAHEIM >> The Servite baseball team completed a three-game sweep of rival Mater Dei with a 5-1 victory over the Monarchs in a Trinity League game Saturday at Servite High School.
The victory puts Servite (12-8, 6-6) in a tie for second place with JSerra.
Mater Dei’s Derek Gonzales, right, is greeted by teammate Ethan Hedges, left, after hitting a home run in the first inning against Servite in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Jarrod Hocking connects for a hit against Mater Dei in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Jonathan Rodriguez races to catch a sinking line drive by Mater Dei in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Derek Gonzales, right, rounds third base after hitting a home run in the first inning against Servite in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite starting pitcher Trevor Schmidt winds to deliver a pitch against Mater Dei in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Austin Rabago slides back ahead of the pick-off attempt at first in a Trinity League baseball game against Mater Dei in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Mater Dei first baseman Connor Neer takes the throw. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei starting pitcher Jordan Manzur delivers a pitch against Servite in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Derek Gonzales dives but can’t come up with the ball on a sinking line drive in a Trinity League baseball game against Servite in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Agustin Gutierrez, left, gets back to the bag ahead of the throw to Mater Dei’s Matt Hernandez, right, on a pick-off attempt in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Austin Rabago, center, scores a run on a hit by Agustin Gutierrez against Mater Dei in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. Mater Dei’s catcher John Elliott is at right. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Austin Rabago slides into third safely ahead of the throw to Mater Dei third baseman Ethan Hedges in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei relief pitcher Sean Kramer looks in to get the sign from the catcher against Servite in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Roman Martin, right, forces out Mater Dei’s Zach L’heureux at second but wasn’t able to complete the double play at first in a Trinity League baseball game in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Matt Hernandez, right, beats out the throw to first in a Trinity League baseball game against Servite in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Servite’s Roman Martin can’t get the ball out of his glove cleanly as he tries to get a force at second in a Trinity League baseball game against Mater Dei in Anaheim on Saturday, April 16, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
To receive an automatic berth in the CIF-SS Division 1 playoffs, the Friars need to finish in second or third. They play their three final league games against St. John Bosco on April 25, 26 and 28.
The Monarchs (11-9, 3-9) have a chance for an at-large bid in the Division 2 playoffs depending on how they do in their final three league games against JSerra on April 25, 26 and 28.
Orange Lutheran has already clinched first place
“All these the rest of the way are obviously really important,” Servite coach Shawn Gilbert said, “and setting ourselves for a chance to get in the playoffs. That is what we are playing for now.”
No. 2 hitter Agustin Gutierrez, who led the Servite offense throughout the three-game series with Mater Dei, went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
For the series, Gutierrez went 7 for 10 with a home run, three doubles, five RBIs and four runs scored.
Gutierrez homered for the only run in the Friars’ 1-0 victory over the Monarchs on Wednesday.
Friars starting pitcher Trevor Schmidt helped his own cause Saturday by going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
After Mater Dei No. 2 hitter Derek Gonzalez homered to left field to give the Monarchs a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Servite responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
Schmidt hit an RBI double to tie the score in the inning and the Friars added an unearned run to take a 2-1 lead.
“That was huge for us,” Schmidt said. “It gave us the momentum to win the game.”
No. 9 hitter Austin Rabago and leadoff hitter Jarrod Hocking hit a single and double, respectively, to start the second for Servite.
Gutierrez then doubled home both runners to give the Friars a 4-1 lead, and Schmidt singled home Gutierrez in the sixth to give Servite an insurance run.
Schmidt pitched 3 2/3 innings to get the victory, and Andy Mike pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up the save.
Servite got excellent pitching in two of the three games with the Monarchs.
Mikiah Negrete allowed one hit and no runs in Servite’s 1-0 victory over Mater Dei on Wednesday.
