The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.
They say timing is everything, and that’s especially true in the postseason.
Millikan had their opportunities, and certainly put enough runners on base during their CIF-SS Division 3 semifinal on Tuesday afternoon at Agoura High. Unfortunately for the traveling Rams, they were unable to cash in enough of those baserunners, leaving 10 men on base during their 3-1 loss to the Chargers.
“I think every run we scored in the playoffs, even today, came with two outs, and that’s about having guys step up and get hits when you need them, and today we just didn’t get those hits,” said Millikan head coach Ron Keester. “If we get one hit, it’s a different game. Leaving the bases loaded in the first (inning) really hurt, then getting bases loaded in the fourth again … To win these games, you’ve got to make plays and get key hits, and (Agoura) did exactly that today.”
The Rams were just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position on Tuesday, while the Chargers were much more effective in those situations, going 3-for-3 to bring home all three of their runs. The Chargers only stranded one runner on base over six innings.
Millikan’s offense fed off walks, drawing seven free passes while their pitching staff only gave up one. But fitting the theme of the game, none of the seven walks issued by Agoura came in to score, while the one batter Millikan walked scored the Chargers’ third and final run.
One major advantage for the Chargers was on the basepaths, where they were 3-for-4 in stolen base attempts, and each of those swipes led directly to a run. Zack Greene opened the scoring in the second after a two-out single and a steal put him in scoring position for Cooper Stutler to single him home.
In the next frame, Kaden Graves singled, stole second with two outs, and scored on an RBI from Braden Oliver.
Those runs were charged to Millikan starter Maison Crommie, who pitched well overall with five strikeouts and no walks over three innings. Daunte Bell came in to cover the final three innings, but made his mark early in the game in center field, tracking what looked like a sure extra-base hit into right center and making a heroic catch before slamming into the outfield fence.
Bell allowed one run in the fifth inning, as a walk to Jordan Tagawa started a one-out rally. He moved to second on a wild pitch, stole third, then came in on an RBI single by Dirt Ibanez to make it 3-0 Agoura.
Freshman starting pitcher Zack Partee danced his way out of trouble throughout the afternoon, tossing six scoreless innings to secure the win with six strikeouts and a whopping seven walks issued.
Millikan mounted one final rally in the seventh, getting back-to-back singles from Alan Machado (1/2, 2 BB) and Adrian Ramirez. Down to the final out, Bell delivered an RBI single up the middle to plate Machado and put the tying run on base, but Agoura’s Cal Meyer was able to finish off the save with a strikeout, sending the Chargers to the CIF finals.
Even in defeat, it was another impressive all-around game from Bell, who is signed with the University of Houston and had one heck of a senior season for the Rams. He showed off his proficiency in the outfield, on the mound, and in the batter’s box on Tuesday to close out a terrific career at Millikan.
“That has been him all year. We’ve seen those three or four facets of the game, and he can also run the bases, too,” said Keester of Bell. “We’ve seen him hit all year, and from the get-go he hasn’t slumped. It’s been very consistent, and that was very key to our success. And then on the mound, what are you gonna say? He was phenomenal all year. His numbers are ridiculous, and it’s kind of cool for him to have a game like this. When we remember him,it’ll be in three facets of the game, and that doesn’t happen very often.”
Millikan ends the season with a 23-8 overall record, a third straight Moore League title, and a CIF semifinal appearance.
Agoura (19-13) will face Mira Costa for the Division 3 title this weekend.
