ENCINO – After giving up a first-inning hit from David Blazer that hit the fence that led to the Milken Wildcats striking first blood, New Roads pitcher Niko Delgado settled into a rhythm and kept the Milken scoreless for the rest of the game.
“Their leadoff hitter, Blazer, is one of the best hitters we’ve seen all year long,” said New Roads coach Sean Brookes. “The kid’s phenomenal. We got lucky a couple times today with him, he hit one right at a kid for a double play ball, lined another one at the second baseman. And then we got him to pop out to end it.”
Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ bats got 12 hits of their own to pull away and take the 9-1 win.
Quinn Barbini went three for four with a double and an RBI while Anthony Carillo, Koki Goto and Christian Vibiano all went two for four.
New Roads held a 4-1 lead for two innings before blasting five more in the seventh to seal the game.
New Roads looks to avenge their 9-3 loss earlier in the season to Animo Leadership when the Jaguars play them on Friday. The winner advances to the semifinals of the CIF.
“Animo handed it to us earlier in the season,” Brookes said. “We’re going to have to come out and play a good game to beat them.”
Brookes said Animo had to forfeit the championship game last year because their pitcher threw too many innings (pitchers are limited 30 outs per week).
“They’re ready. They’re hungry. They’re a real good team,” Brookes said.
