The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters.
The562’s coverage of St. Anthony athletics is sponsored by Jane & B.I. Mais, Class of 1949.
One swing of the bat can shift momentum and ignite a team.
That moment didn’t come on Saturday night as the St. Anthony baseball team lost 2-0 to Elsinore in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 championship Saturday night at Blair Field.
“Their pitching was the reason we fell short,” St. Anthony coach Kris Jondle said. “They were both really good. Except for that one wild streak (Farias) had – he was really tough. He regrouped in the middle of that inning after that wild streak.”
After reaching the CIF title game for the third time – the first time since 2015 – St. Anthony’s season will continue in the CIF State Regional playoffs with brackets coming out on Sunday.
St. Anthony junior Jaylen Butler got the start for the Saints and after a leadoff single, he got out of the first inning thanks to a pick by sophomore catcher Owen Frazier and a strikeout.
Elsinore’s Jacob Farias got the start and retired the first ten batters he faced, keeping the Saints’ bats silent.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Andrew Jimenez grounded into double play, but a run scored on the fielder’s choice.
At the top of the fourth inning, Anthony Valdez took over on the mound for the Saints after Butler pitched 3 innings, finishing with a line of 3 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 3 strikeouts.
Valdez pitched a shutout fourth inning, bouncing back after walking the leadoff batter.
Farias started to get shaky in the fourth inning. After he retired Nick Galluccio, he walked three straight batters to load the bases for the Saints.
However, the Saints couldn’t capitalize, as Farias retired the next two batters with a strikeout and groundout.
“Everyone tried performing as they could,” Galluccio said. “We hit it right to them. Most of those hits, we should have a lot more. I give them props.”
The Tigers added another run at the top of the fifth inning after Brody Boyd tripled and scored on an error to push the lead to 2-0.
In the sixth inning, Benny Lane came in looking to shutout Elsinore and give the Saints an opportunity to mount a comeback.
The senior did just that as he pitched two perfect innings while striking out two batters.
“This is a mental battle between us and really us,” Lane said after the game. “Because at the end of the day it’s not who had the better athletes. It’s not who was stronger in the moment, who threw harder. It’s more about the mental side of it.”
While Lane did what he needed to, giving his team an opportunity to remain in striking distance – Elsinore’s Andrew Jimenez closed the door pitching the final 2.1 innings with five strikeouts.
In the seventh inning, the Saints went down in order as Jimenez kept the St. Anthony hitters off balance.
“All the credit goes to them,” Jondle said. “They really earned it.”
While the Saints didn’t get the outcome they wanted, Lane continued to provide a lift for his teammates after the loss.
“It’s a game of failure,” Lane said. “I feel like this isn’t failure for us. This is just a minor step back before we get ready for state, because humility is one of the things in life that helps make someone stronger.”
