By Steve Breazeale
Playing with a healthy lineup and getting solid efforts out of their deep pitching staff, the JSerra baseball team made it to the semifinals of the Boras Baseball Classic on April 4, but were bounced by Oaks Christian 5-2.
Before the season started, Lions (7-8, 2-3 league) head coach Brett Kay knew that pitching wouldn’t be much of a question mark for the team. The hole that would need to be filled would be on the offensive side of the ball. In the first of three games played at the inaugural tournament (held at JSerra) the Lions seemed to balance things out with both solid pitching and timely hitting.
A healthy Dane McFarland proved helpful to the Lions in their tournament opener against El Camino Real on April 2. McFarland went two for three with an RBI in his return from off season hand surgery and the Lions cruised to a 6-0 victory. Staff ace Quentin Longrie pitched six innings in the game, ensuring a shutout.
The Lions went on to defeat West Ranch 5-2 on April 3, setting the stage for their semifinals appearance.
JSerra will now host Lakewood on April 5 at 3 p.m.
