RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — Santa Margarita catcher Warren Gravely IV wears a Superman T-shirt underneath his uniform.
Gravely lived up to that moniker Friday with a walk-off single for Santa Margarita in a 5-4 win over Los Alamitos in the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals at Santa Margarita High.
The game featured four ties or lead changes in the final innings and two late home runs.
Lucas Owens hit a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Santa Margarita (19-12) a 4-3 lead.
Santa Margarita coach Chris Malec brought in ace pitcher Brennan Bauer, who had thrown 62 pitches in the Eagles’ win Tuesday over Huntington Beach, to close the game in the seventh.
Sutton Deninno hit a pinch hit home run in nearly the same spot as Owens’ home run to tie the game for Los Alamitos.
Santa Margarita responded by getting its first two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh. Carter Enoch was hit by a pitch and Ben Finnegan executed a bunt single to advance Enoch into scoring position. Gravely lifted a bloop single to right field for the walk-off hit.
“I just want to do everything I can to help my team win and go into everyday with a positive mindset,” Gravely said. “In that moment, everyone in the dugout knew we were going to come back in the bottom of the seventh, pick up our best pitcher and win this game.”
Santa Margarita will host Crepi in the semifinals Tuesday.
“It will be an exciting atmosphere, a semifinal game at home,” Malec said. “You never know how many opportunities you have to play in these atmospheres.”
Gravely is no stranger to coming through in big moments for the Eagles. He hit a game-tying, two-run double against Huntington Beach on Tuesday and a bases-clearing triple in extra innings in a win over JSerra in late April.
“He’s a really good baseball player that lives for big moments,” Malec said of Gravely. “That competitiveness and that fire makes him someone we trust in those moments.”
Santa Margarita scored two runs in the first inning via a RBI double from Gavin Spiridonoff and a run-scoring single from Finnegan.
Los Alamitos tied the game in the third due to some sloppy defense from the Eagles. The inning began with Santa Margarita’s center fielder losing a pop fly in the sun which led to the Griffins’ leadoff hitter reaching second base. Los Alamitos scored its first run on a wild pitch and the second run scored on a throwing error during a stolen base attempt.
Santa Margarita’s defense did pick things up later in the game and the Eagles turned three double plays. The Eagles turned a double play to finish the sixth inning and Spiridonoff made a nice play at shortstop to finish the seventh.
“Ultimately when it came down to those clutch moments, our pitchers were able to rely on our defense and continue to trust them. That’s huge,” Malec said.
Santa Margarita had a chance to blow the game open in the fifth inning but an excellent defensive play by Los Alamitos preserved the tie game. Enoch hit a RBI double for the Eagles to tie the game at three and the Eagles had the bases loaded after two consecutive hit batters.
Blake Ankrum hit a line drive to left field but Los Alamitos left fielder Wyatt Joyce made a diving catch to keep the game tied at three.
Carrion went 3 for 4 for Los Alamitos with an RBI and Joyce added a double. Long Beach State signee Tristan Dalzell pitched 3⅔ innings for Los Alamitos but threw 83 pitches and allowed eight baserunners.
UCLA signee Hayden George started the game for Santa Margarita and allowed two unearned runs in three innings with five strikeouts. Finnegan had two hits with a stolen base and Spiridonoff had two hits with three runs scored.
The Eagles clinched a spot in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs. Santa Margarita won the regional championship in 2023.
Los Alamitos second baseman James Reveles tags out Santa Margarita’s Andre Owens as he attempts to steal second during the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos shortstop Tyler Smith tags out Santa Margarita’s Blake Ankrum at second on an attempted stollen base during the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Devin Porch dives safely back to second base, avoiding the tag from Santa Margarita’s Gavin Spiridonoff, during the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Kaden Carrion dives safely back to first base, avoiding the tag by Santa Margarita first baseman Blake Ankrum, during a CIF-SS Division 1 game between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Gavin Spiridonoff dives safely back to first base, avoiding the tag by Los Alamitos first baseman Rowan Shelley, during a CIF-SS Division 1 game between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Kaden Carrion dives safely back to first base, avoiding the tag by Santa Margarita first baseman Blake Ankrum, during a CIF-SS Division 1 game between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Luke Blanchard hits the ball during a CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal home game against Los Alamitos on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Blake Ankrum hits the ball during a CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal home game against Los Alamitos on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Kaden Carrion hits the ball during a CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal at Santa Margarita High School on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Devin Porch hits the ball during a CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal at Santa Margarita High School on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Hayden George pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Los Alamitos on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Hayden George pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Los Alamitos on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Ethan Russell pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Los Alamitos on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Chris Saucedo pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Los Alamitos on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Logan Anderson pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Santa Margarita on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Tristin Dalzell pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Santa Margarita on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Ryan Deck pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Santa Margarita on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Tristin Dalzell pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Santa Margarita on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Los Alamitos’ Tristin Dalzell pitches during the quarterfinal CIF-SS Division 1 playoff game against Santa Margarita on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 19Los Alamitos second baseman James Reveles tags out Santa Margarita’s Andre Owens as he attempts to steal second during the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinal between the two teams on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer) ExpandRelated Articles
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