SANTA ANA – Late night with Mater Dei baseball was a successful show again for the Monarchs.

For the second game in as many days Mater Dei won in the 11th inning. On Thursday it was a 4-3 win over Huntington Beach in the Boras Classic South semifinals at Mater Dei High.

Mater Dei senior Antonio Ganem’s drive to the fence in left field drove in Braden Ruiz with the winning run, one day after the Monarchs beat La Mirada 3-2 in the 11th inning of the quarterfinals.

The Monarchs (11-6) will play Corona (15-1) in the tournament championship game Friday at 6 p.m. at Mater Dei. Corona beat Etiwanda 11-1 in the other semifinal Thursday.

Mater Dei is No. 6 in the Orange County Top 25. Corona is No. 1 in CIF Southern Section Division 1.

Huntington Beach (13-5), No. 4 in the county rankings, will play Etiwanda (6-11) in the third-place game Friday at 6 p.m. at JSerra.

Postgame with Brandon Thomas, who pitched 8 excellent innings, and Antonio Ganem who had an RBI hit in the 9th and the winning hit in the 11th to beat Huntington Beach 4-3 ⁦@TheBorasClassic⁩ semifinal… pic.twitter.com/bHwMpLGa4C

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) April 5, 2024

Monarchs coach Richard Mercado said close games have been routine in his six seasons in charge of Mater Dei baseball.

“It’s just been fun watching the program evolve and the guys competing and believing,” said Mercado, who was an All-Orange County catcher at Mater Dei. “Even when we’ve lost they’ve shown grit and determination. I’m really proud of this group and I love the way the play.”

Mater Dei will try to win the Boras Classic South tournament for the second time. The Monarchs won the tournament in its first year in 2013.

Ruiz singled in the 11th inning Thursday with two outs. He advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Ganem drilled the ball to the fence to drive in Ruiz for the winning run.

Antonio Ganem with the walk-off drive to drive in Braden Ruiz for Mater Dei in the bottom of the 11th. MD 4, Huntington Beach 3 ⁦@TheBorasClassic⁩ semi pic.twitter.com/xZLyaETxH1

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) April 5, 2024

Huntington Beach scored in the top of the ninth inning for a 3-2 lead on CJ Weinstein’s sacrifice fly that drove in Matt Hansen who had doubled.

The Monarchs tied it in their half of the ninth when Ganem dumped a base hit into shallow center field to send home Austin Gerken, who was pinch running for Lawson Olmstead who had singled.

Mater Dei scored first, in the bottom of the first inning. Ezekiel Lara walked and was able to steal second base on an attempted pickoff throw to first base. Lara scored on pitcher Brandon Thomas’ ground single up the middle for a 1-0 lead.

Huntington Beach tied it with a run in the top of the second. Matt Hansen hit a triple into the gap in right-center field and scored on Weinstein’s sacrifice fly to left field.

The Oilers took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third. John Petrie singled, went to third base on Ethan Porter’s double and scored on Trevor Goldenetz’s sacrifice fly to left field.

The Monarchs tied it 2-2 in their half of the fifth inning. Dylan Wetzel walked, advanced to second base on a ground out, took third on wild pitch and scored on a wild pitch.

That would conclude the scoring until Huntington Beach and Mater Dei scored in the ninth.

Huntington Beach LF John Petrie with the catch and throw to catcher Trent Grindlinger for the double play to get Ezekiel Lara. HB 2, Mater Dei 2 going into the 11th pic.twitter.com/a6PMoU7evB

— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) April 5, 2024

Thomas was the Mater Dei starting pitcher and went eight innings. Jayden Vasquez replaced Thomas and pitched the ninth, 10th and 11 innings.

Huntington Beach also got fine pitching performances from freshman starter Jared Grindlinger, Colin McNiven and Aaron Minnicucci.

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