ANAHEIM >> The Anaheim baseball team came into its CIF Southern California Division V regional semifinal having to face a streaking Baldwin Park team with an excellent pitching staff.
While Anaheim got a quality outing from pitcher Aaron Rojas, the Colonists couldn’t muster much offense Friday against Baldwin Park’s Tommy Villanueva.
Anaheim rallied in the seventh but came up just short and the Braves hung on for a 3-2 victory.
Baldwin Park’s Jordan Davis celebrates on his way to the dugout after scoring a run against Anaheim in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park’s third baseman Christian Escamilla makes the play on a hard grounder down the line against Anaheim in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
First baseman Anaheim’s Jillian Albayati makes the put out at first base against Baldwin Park in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park outfielder Ivan Munoz gets to a sinking fly ball in time to make the out against Anaheim in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Anaheim’s Jesus Mejia, left, slides home past Baldwin Park’s catcher Michael Martinez, right, to score a run in the first inning in the CIF Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Anaheim pitcher Aaron Rojas delivers a pitch against Baldwin Park in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park’s Kenny Ramos, center, bumps Christian Escamilla as they celebrate winning the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game against Anaheim High School in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park’s Michael Martinez scores a run against Anaheim in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Anaheim’s Sonny Rios can’t field a grounder cleanly against Baldwin Park in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park’s Jordan Davis, left, and Ricardo Rodriguez celebrate after winning the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game against Anaheim High School in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park pitcher Tommy Villanueva delivers a pitch against Anaheim in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park’s Jordan Davis scores a run against Anaheim in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Baldwin Park’s Christian Escamilla, center, is surrounded by teammates as they celebrate winning the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game against Anaheim High School in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Anaheim’s Evan Torres slides but is tagged out by Baldwin Park third baseman Christian Escamilla in the CIF SoCal Division V regional semifinal baseball game in Anaheim on Friday, June 3, 2022. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
“We knew it was going to be a pitching duel all the way through,” Anaheim coach Mike Barrera said. “Their pitcher did a good job of keeping us off balance at the plate.”
Baldwin Park (22-11), winners of seven in a row, including a 4-2 victory over Hueneme for the CIF-SS Division 7 championship, will play Estancia for the Division V regional championship at 4 p.m. Saturday at Estancia High School.
The Eagles defeated Kennedy of Delano, 4-2, in the other semifinal Thursday.
“I’m glad we’ve evolved into a team that can win the super-close games,” Braves coach Jake Barendregt said.
Jillian Albayati’s sacrifice fly in the second inning scored Jesus Mejia from third to give the Colonists (22-11-1) a 1-0 lead.
In the third, an Anaheim error put runners on second and third and Christian Escamilla’s two-out single scored both runners to give the Braves a 2-1 lead.
“We knew it was going to come down to defense,” Barrera said. “We happened to make a mistake.
The Braves added another run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
The Colonists couldn’t solve Villanueva who retired 11 batters in a row before an error and a hit batter in the fifth put runners on first and second for Anaheim.
With runners on first and second and one out in the seventh, Albert Uribe singled home Rojas to make it a one-run game.
Barendregt brought in Jason Martinez to relieve Villanueva, who was two outs from pitching a complete game.
Martinez, who pitched out of a jam in a relief appearance in the Division 7 championship game, helped retire the next two hitters, stranding the potential tying and winning runs for Anaheim.
“Jason is just a gamer,” Barendregt said “He’s got an iceman mentality.”
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Albayati, who two weeks ago became the first girl to ever pitch in a CIF-SS championship game, went 1 for 3 with an RBI and hit the ball hard in all three at-bats.
The senior, who played first base and pitches, said she is considering options to play softball or baseball in college and will spend the summer playing softball for the Firecrackers club team.
“It was just a great season,” Albayati said. “We really proved something about Anaheim High School.”
