Rain can’t hamper Woodburn, Trojans
California pitcher Garitt Woodburn struck out six Western Beaver batters en route to his eighth win of the season Monday to lead the Trojans to the WPIAL Class A semifinals.
California’s Johnny DeFranco celebrates Monday after the Trojans beat Western Beaver, 3-1.
California catcher Casey Zajicek makes a diving catch during the top of the sixth inning Monday.
California didn’t play its best baseball by a long shot, but it was enough for the top-seeded Trojans to advance to the WPIAL Class A semifinals with a 3-1 win against No. 8 seed Western Beaver at Washington & Jefferson College’s Ross Memorial Park on a rainy Monday.
Senior Garitt Woodburn pitched a complete game, picking up his eighth win of the season.
He struck out six and didn’t allow a walk.
“It is the same thing that happened last year,” California coach Nick Damico said. “We came out flat today. I don’t think we played a very good ballgame all around, except for (Garitt) Woodburn. He was outstanding and the defense was outstanding. That is what you need to win championships.
“If we win the game, that is all that matters to me. It was a well-played game. They won the WPIAL two years ago so I knew it was going to be a good game.”
California (18-1) advances to the semifinals Wednesday (6:30 p.m.) against Serra, a 4-3 winner over Jeannette. That game also will be played at Ross Memorial Park.
The Trojans had a trouble putting a crooked number on the scoreboard, but pushed across a run in each of the first two innings to jump out to a 2-0 lead.
After a one-out double by Johnny DeFranco, sophomore Nathaniel Luketich gave the Trojans their first run with an RBI single up the middle. It was his 40th RBI of the season.
California made it 2-0 when junior Louden Conte delivered a two-out RBI in the second dinning.
The lead was more than enough for Woodburn.
“Fastball location was working,” Woodburn said. “We have been working on that. They are strong hitters so we just tried to work inside on them.”
Woodburn was one of the offensive standouts as well, helping himself with an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth that gave Cal a 3-0 lead.
“It is a big confidence booster,” Woodburn said. “It eases your mind. You just know you don’t have to worry that much when you can help yourself get a lead.”
Woodburn’s lone scuffle came in the top of the sixth. Junior Corey Chaffee pulled Western Beaver (9-6) to within 3-1 with an RBI double down the left-field line.
After a 25-minute rain delay, Woodburn struck out three of the final four batters to clinch the semifinal berth for the Trojans.
“I think it calmed me down,” Woodburn said about the rain delay. “I was able to focus after that.”
Luketich led the Trojans’ offense with a 2-for-3 day at the plate.
Hunter Roknich, losing pitcher Cody Acon and Turner Anthony each had two hits for Western Beaver. Both teams had seven hits.