SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A : Saunders’ Bat, Moler’s Arm and Emerson’s Quote Help Esperanza

Esperanza High School, the defending Southern Section champion, had been tough enough on opponents this season, winning 23 of its first 25 games.

The last thing an opponent would want to do is give the Aztecs some extra incentive.

But after reading newspaper quotes from Arcadia star Charlie Emerson predicting an upset, the fired-up Aztecs defeated Arcadia, 2-0, in a 4-A semifinal Tuesday at Cal State Los Angeles.

Esperanza, led by Jason Moler’s one-hit pitching for six innings, advances to the 4-A final Saturday at Dodger Stadium against Lakewood, which defeated El Dorado, 5-4.

Doug Saunders hit a two-run home run to right field with two out in the third inning for Esperanza (25-2) and struck out two in the seventh inning to earn the save.

Before the game, Moler said the team was passing around a newspaper article that included these comments from Emerson:

“One thing about this (Arcadia) team is we play really good when we’re mad. . . . I’m sure Esperanza is going to fall. I’m sick of hearing that name: Esperanza, Esperanza. Tomorrow (Tuesday) it’s going to be Arcadia.�

Emerson, who came into the game with a .450 average and 27 RBIs in 27 games, walked twice and struck out as the Apaches (21-6-1) managed just a sixth-inning double off Moler.

“We were all reading that article before the game,� Moler said. “It really gave us incentive to beat them.

“When I walked him (Emerson) in the first inning, he was saying stuff on his way down the line. He’s pretty cocky.�

Moler (8-1), who walked three and struck out five, silenced Arcadia for most of the game as he flirted with a no-hitter.

But with two out in the sixth, Arcadia center fielder Chris McCarn drilled a fastball off the left-field fence for a double.

After the double, Emerson walked to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. But as Dave Weckerle took ball three, McCarn was thrown out at third on the front end of a double steal attempt.

McCarn reached the base ahead of the high throw from catcher Rick Pressel, but slid off the base and was tagged out by Brent Bish.

“We tried to get something going and it didn’t work out,� Arcadia Coach John Meiers said.

Esperanza’s star shortstop, Tom Redington, was 0 for 2, but walked with two out in the third before Saunders’ homer off Arcadia’s Eric Gruben (11-3).

Gruben, who pitched 22 innings in the Apaches’ first three playoff victories, was impressive Tuesday. He threw a five-hitter and struck out six.

“I tell you that guy has to be bionic or something,� Esperanza Coach Mike Curran said. “We scouted him at Ocean View (in a 7-6 nine-inning victory Friday) and he threw 140 pitches. We only hit one ball hard all day.�

This time, once was enough.