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Estancia baseball players celebrate after winning the first CIF title in school history. (Photos: OC Sports Zone, Fernando M. Donado).
Estancia High School’s baseball team made history with its first CIF title Saturday, defeating Anaheim 2-1 in 11 innings in the Division 6 championship game at Goodwin Field on the Cal State Fullerton campus.
Anaheim senior pitcher Jillian Albayati also made history in major proportions by becoming the first female pitcher to start a CIF baseball championship game. Albayati, looking very much like she belonged on the big stage, pitched the first nine innings, scattering eight hits, allowing one run and striking out two. She was 1 for 5 at the plate and drove in a run and moved to first base when her pitching stint was over.
Afterwards, Estancia players praised her effort on the mound.
Both teams had numerous chances to go ahead but it was second-seeded Estancia that got the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th inning on an RBI double by James De La O, who also got the win, pitching 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief.
“There was relief,” said Estancia Coach Nate Goellrich after his team’s first appearance in the finals. “Just the mental grind of that game, we knew there would be bunting, we knew there would be hit and runs, we were just trying to out think the other coach and he coached a hell of a game too. I’m just so happy for these kids, everything they went through last year, then the coaching changeover. For them to have that moment is just amazing.”
Anaheim (22-9-1) looked like it might rally in the bottom of the 11th.
With one out, Albayati hit a deep fly to center field. The runners on first and second tagged up to second and third. But Estancia appealed the play and the umpire ruled that the runner at second left too soon, ending the game with the third out.
“This win means a great deal to everyone,” said De La O. “We did it. We went through a lot of change this summer in coaching and got the job done.”
De La O (3-0) not only got the win, but recorded the game-winning hit with a double down the line to drive in Trevor Scott, who singled.
“It was a 3-1 count and I knew it was going to be a fastball in the zone,” he said.
Sophomore Andrew Mits started for the Eagles, pitching 6 1/3 innings before reaching his pitch and inning limit. He allowed just two hits, struck out four and walked four. Scott came in to pitch three scoreless innings, striking out three and allowing no hits.
Aaron Rojas relieved Albayati in the 10th inning, allowing three hits.
“We were confident with her going on the hill, her and Aaron have both been our two horses and with her battling it out, we knew we were going to play defense behind her,” said Anaheim Coach Mike Barrera. “We had all the confidence in the world in her, offensively, we just couldn’t get enough done for her.”
“We all fought really hard and the defense behind me was great,” Albayati added.
Estancia (27-6) took a 1-0 lead with a run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI single by Jack Moyer, driving in John Uchytil, who walked.
But Anaheim battled back in the bottom of the inning. Jesus Mejia walked, Rojas sacrificed him to second base and Albayati followed with a single to tie it.
Cole Lefebvre was 2 for 4 and Moyer, Scott and Andrew Coyotzi were 2 for 5 for Estancia, which outhit Anaheim, 11-4.
Estancia stranded eight runners and Anaheim 10.
Both teams are headed to the CIF regional tournament in a week.
Check back later for more photos and coverage
—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
