WHITTIER – The Pioneer baseball team is making history after defeating visiting Placentia Valencia, 3-1, in Tuesday’s CIF Southern Section Division 8 semifinals, sending the Titans to their first championship game ever.
Pioneer will take on Fillmore, a 5-0 winner over Colton, in Friday or Saturday’s championshp game at a site to determined on Wednesday.
“It’s unbelievable,” said Pioneer fifth-year coach Bob Espinosa, of the history-making win. “We’re senior heavy and they’re just believing in themselves right now and they’re going to a championship game, and they’re going with a smile.”
Pioneer wins…going g to first CIF Final in school history pic.twitter.com/TdMQcSYGLh
— John Sherrard (@johnsgvsherrard) May 28, 2025
The big hit for the Titans came in the second inning when senior right fielder Carlos Renteria hit a two-run single to left field, scoring seniors Cristian Maciel and Josh Carrasco, who both got aboard with singles.
“My hit was honestly a deciding factor in winning this game,” an excited Renteria said. “Sometimes it takes that little push.”
The Titans scored their third run on an RBI single to center by shortstop Izzy Copado, scoring Renteria for a 3-0 cushion.
Valencia starter Nate Mendenhall, who had four strikeouts, settled down after fallling behind three runs and didn’t allow a hit over the next two innings. Senior Jonathan Rodriguez threw a perfect fifth and sixth innings. In the sixth, Rodriguez struck out the side.
However, the Tigers stranded eight runners in the game which frustrated head coach Joe Secoda.
Their lone run came in the fourth inning when senior center fielder Samuel Ramirez doubled to left and came home on a throwing error.
“Yes, that was tough,” said Secoda, of the eight runners left on base. “That sixth inning we had bases loaded and just didn’t get that key timely hit in that inning, or the rest of the game.”
Pioneer is going to the CIF D8 Championship against Fillmore, a 5-0 winner over Colton. pic.twitter.com/gc5K6hAitH
— John Sherrard (@johnsgvsherrard) May 28, 2025
Valencia (13-14) left four runners in scoring position for the game.
Carrasco, who finished with strikeouts, started and earned the victory. Senior Ethan Islas closed the game.
Carrasco stranded runners in scoring position in the third with a strikeout and Islas shut down Valencia with the bases full in the sixth.
“That was really big for me, and I knew I had (Carrasco) back and hit my spots,” Islas said. “I just feel really honored to make school history.”
Carrasco echoed what his teammate said.
“I felt really good overall on the mound,” Carrasco said. “The third inning I started to fatigue but then in the fourth and fifth inning it started to overcome me, and I thought this might be my last game as a baseball player and I can’t leave no regrets out here, so I just left it all out on the field.”
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