West Covina baseball struggles early, loses to Village Christian in CIF-SS quarterfinals
Village Christian scores five runs in the first inning and pitcher Josh Popjes tosses a shutout to end West Covina's first trip to the CIF-SS playoffs since 2018.
WEST COVINA — West Covina baseball’s best postseason run in 30 years came to an end Friday as it lost to Village Christian 7-1 in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 quarterfinals.
West Covina (15-8-1) was making its first playoff appearance since the 2018 season, and nerves seemed to get the best of the Bulldogs early in the game.
A hit batter, a walk and then an error by West Covina gave the Crusaders (18-7-1) an unearned run in the top of the first.
Singles by Hudson Nichols, Ryan French and a ground-rule double by Dylan Worrell followed, giving the Crusaders a 5-0 lead as they batted around in the first inning.
Worrell led the Crusaders’ 12-hit attack with three hits, including a double and triple and scored two runs.
“We got some breaks in that first inning,” Crusaders coach Carl Gschwender said. “But we cashed them in and that’s what we’ve been doing all season long.”
The Bulldogs bounced back with a run in the bottom of the first.
Leadoff hitter Jacob Nguyen was hit by a pitch, stole second base and came home on a single by Christian Salinas, but that turned out to be all of the runs for the Bulldogs.
Crusaders starting pitcher Josh Popjes then retired 14 consecutive batters before Nguyen singled with one out in the sixth.
“We can’t spot a good team five runs,” West Covina first-year coach Steven Jimenez said. “He (Popjes) was throwing a lot of strikes, so we were swinging at first pitches but hitting the ball right at them. We just never got that inning we were hoping for.”
Popjes gave up two hits, got nine ground ball outs and threw only 63 pitches.
“That’s what we try to preach to our kids,” Gschwender said. “Our pitching coach, Jeff Salazar, who was drafted by the Angels, has been telling our pitchers all year to throw strikes and let your defense work.”
Popjes struck out one and didn’t give up a walk as he ran his record to 5-2.
“I think locating my fastball where I wanted it was the key,” Popjes said. “I got it inside, outside and right up where I wanted. Just a perfect pitch. It got them swinging then I came in with the slider and diced them. But my defense is my number one favorite. I love ‘em, they’re my favorite.”
The Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals after routing top-seeded Costa Mesa 14-3 in a second round Tuesday.
“All of West Covina should be proud of this team,” Jimenez said. “Losing late like this hurts but, we’ve had a season to remember. We knew the leadership was going to be here because we had 14 seniors. I have never been around a better group of kids.”
The Crusaders picked up a run in the fourth on a double by Ethan Tibert and a single by Gavin Chase.
Worrell’s third hit was a single with one out in the sixth. He stole second and came home with the Crusaders final run on a single by French.