RANCHO CUCAMONGA — The Etiwanda baseball program is back in familiar territory this season.
The Eagles struggled last season (12-14) and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
Etiwanda has bounced back in a big way this season. The Eagles reclaimed the Baseline League title and are in the midst of another deep playoff run. Dylan Goff and Yahir Ramirez combined on a three-hitter, and the offense took advantage off free bases to rout Pacifica 10-0 in a Division 2 quarterfinal game Friday.
The Eagles (23-8) will make a journey to Palos Verdes (21-10) on Tuesday afternoon for the program’s first semifinal game since 2017, when it claimed the Division 2 championship.
“We took last year as a blip on the radar,” Etiwanda coach Don Furnald said. “This was something that we were not used to, but it got everyone refocused. And we are happy to be where we are at right now.”
Goff, a junior right-hander, was outstanding on the mound, allowing two hits in six innings of work to run his record to 10-0. Goff worked out of a pairs of jams to keep Pacifica (21-9) off the scoreboard.
“I was missing high a lot in those innings, so I just slowed things down and took a few deep breaths,” said Goff, who walked three and struck out four. “Once I calmed down, I started finding a good rhythm again.”
Etiwanda grabbed a quick lead in the opening inning, as the first two batters of the game reached base on a dropped third strike and a walk. Freshman Brady Ebel singled home Austen Roellig to get the Eagles on the board, and Michael Harrison followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Armando Briseno. Etiwanda tacked on a third run in the second inning, when Parker Sobiesiak singled home Tyler Shigenaka.
Pacifica had a chance to jump back in the game in the third after Justin Aguinaga and Junior Zendejas opened the frame with back-to-back singles. They were stranded on first and second, however, as Goff retired three straight batters. Goff walked the first two in the fourth, prompting a visit from Furnald.
“I just told him to settle down, be himself and not try to do too much out there,” Furnald said.
Pacifica again failed to plate a run, as Goff got a fly out and a pair of ground balls to end the threat.
Etiwanda doubled its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the floodgates opened after a walk and a dropped fly ball with one out. Ebel had an RBI groundout, and Harrison stroked a double into the gap in left-center to bring home another run. Alfredo Capacete capped the inning with an RBI single.
Pacifica’s four pitchers combined to walk seven batters, hit four more and throw three wild pitches.
“Our team does a great job swinging the bats, and we take advantage whenever we have runners on base,” said Harrison, who went 2 for 2 with a walk and the sacrifice fly. “We tried to be patient and wait for good pitches to sit on. I think we did a good job today coming through in clutch spots.”
Etiwanda continued to add to its lead late in the game. Roellig singled home a run in the fifth, and another run scored in that inning on a wild pitch. Sobiesiak knocked in his second run of the game on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and Michai Harrison knocked in the final run with a pinch-hit single.
Pacifica starting pitcher Chad Gurnea struck out seven batters before being relieved in the fourth.