RESEDA – An explosive 11-run sixth inning broke a scoreless pitchers’ duel and propelled Taft into the Division I semifinals, overwhelming Cleveland 11-0.

Before the game, Taft head coach Thomas Derry said his team wasn’t focused on the opponent, only on playing within themselves and executing. And the Toreadors did just that. No one exemplified that more than pitcher Sebastian Gamez, who kept the Cavaliers off the board despite working through traffic every inning.

His counterpart, Xander Guiley was dominant early, striking out eight Toreadors through five scoreless frames. The Cavalier offense, however, repeatedly stranded runners. Cleveland threatened on a Roman Oh double to start the game. But Taft third baseman Victor Jara made a play on a sharp Joshua Pearlstein grounder to save a run and keep Oh at third. Moments later, Oh was thrown out trying to steal home on a passed ball to end the inning.

In the second, Cavalier’s Javier Vargas singled to lead off. Sebastian Castaneda moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. A walk to Shiloh Wickcliffe put runners on first and second with one out, but Gamez escaped again by striking out Bush to end the threat.

The Cavaliers threatened in the third after Josh Pearlstein ripped a two-out double and Cleveland followed with a pair of walks to load the bases. But Gamez induced a Castaneda fly out to escape another jam.

The Taft right-hander battled through the early innings, but got sharper the deeper he went. “He kept us in that ballgame.” Derry said. “Gave us a chance to get to that sixth inning.”

And when the sixth arrived, it began quietly enough. Brian Strasburger blooped single to center. Sebastian Fernandez followed with a sacrifice bunt, but the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag, leaving runners on first and second with nobody out.

Dual sport star Nate Swinson stepped to the plate and ripped a line drive down the left field line, scoring Strasburger and moving Fernandez to third. The tide palpably shifted.

Liam Barnett followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0. Mauricio Vargas was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no one out. Cleveland head coach Peter Gunny reluctantly pulled Guiley and turned to Pearlstein to stop the bleeding, but things kept unraveling from there.

Pearlstein hit Josh Friedman to force in a run, then walked Ollie Burger to make it 4-0. Gunny turned next to sophomore Ray Healy. Pinch hitter Lloyd Gaynor chopped a grounder that Grant Oh couldn’t handle cleanly, allowing a fifth run to score. Victor Jara then ripped a two-run double down the left field line to extend the lead to 7-0.

Strasburger added an RBI single, his second hit of the inning, and Fernandez followed with another base hit. A misplay in left field allowed two more runs to score as the inning spiraled out of control.

Toby Luce mopped up but, by the time the dust settled, Taft had scored 11 runs. Remarkably, after the extended offensive explosion, Gamez returned to the mound in the bottom of the frame to finish what he started. He allowed one hit before sealing the mercy-rule complete game victory and sending the Toreadors into the semifinals.

“All of our seniors were an integral part of this program for four years.” Gunny reflected. “Josh Pearlstein had a tremendous career. Roman Oh had a tremendous career. Sebastian Castaneda played third, first, left, pitched. Ansel Cotter was a big contributor. Javi (Vargas) didn’t get to start much as a junior, but came back this year and was our starting catcher. They’ve given us everything.”

Derry on that sixth inning: “It just shows the resiliency we have as a team. We’ve been through our ups and downs this season. And it all went to that inning. Everybody did their part. They were unselfish and did whatever it took to score a run and that’s what championship teams do.”

Taft now sits just one win away from returning to Dodger Stadium for the first time since 1974, back when future Hall of Famer Robin Yount roamed the Toreadors’ infield. To get there, they’ll have to get past the third-seeded Venice Gondoliers this Wednesday at Stengel Field in Glendale. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.

all photos by David Martinez