All photos by Benjamin Becher

NORTHRIDGE — El Camino Real’s ace tandem, Luke Howe and Devon Gonor, combined for 138 innings, 16 wins, 9 complete games, and 4 shutouts during the regular season. They were just as dominant in the City Section Open Division semifinal.

Facing Birmingham’s freshman phenom Carlos Acuña, the game opened as a tense pitcher’s duel. The Patriots struck first with an Isaac Monterrubio RBI single in the first, as Howe labored through a 24-pitch frame.

The Royals responded in the second with a Vince Venia RBI double and Christian Gastellum RBI single to go up 2–1. However, defensive miscues in the third inning and a Howe wild pitch allowed Birmingham to reclaim the lead, 3–2.

Acuña wasn’t at his sharpest, walking four and hitting a batter. That didn’t stop him from brimming with confidence as he escaped several jams, including a bases-loaded strikeout to end the fourth.

Reliever Allen Olmos entered in the bottom of the fifth inning and induced a clutch inning-ending double play with the bases loaded.

Howe kept Birmingham off the board through six, and Olmos struck out the side in the bottom half. Gonor took the rock in the top of the seventh inning and retired the Patriots in order, but Birmingham still led 3-2 and were three outs away from Dodger Stadium.

Olmos opened by hitting Jackson Sellz, who was bunted over to second for the first out. Howe then tied the game with a seeing-eye single to center. Troy Shaw followed with another single, moving Howe into scoring position.

Julius Haim smacked a walk-off single past a diving second baseman and Howe came around to score and steal a 4-3 win.

Gonor earned the victory and, as logic would dictate, will most likely get the start in the CIF City Section Open Division Championship at Dodger Stadium on Saturday. Howe will be waiting in the wings.