ANTIOCH - Gerardo Vargas scattered four hits and struck out eight for Moreau Catholic on Thursday afternoon, as the Mariners held off Deer Valley on the road, 2-1, ending the game with a play at the plate to wipe out the potential game-tying run.
Trailing by two runs in the bottom of the seventh, Brendan Heredia was hit by a pitch with one out, and Ryan DeStefano followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Nate Hermosillo then hit a ground ball to shortstop, but beat out the relay to first base when Moreau's middle infield looked for the double play. With two outs, AJ Levias came through with a double to right field, easily scoring Heredia from third. But when Hermosillo tried to stretch it all the way around the bases from first, the relay throw from right fielder James Herb to third baseman Noah Zertuche made its way to catcher Kevin Cameron before Hermosillo to end the game.
The teams were scoreless through the first five inning, until Sebastian Espinoza's sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning scored Jacob George, putting Moreau Catholic in front. Vargas then reached on an error, which also allowed Cameron to score a much-needed insurance run for the Mariners. Cameron had doubled earlier in the inning to put both himself and George in scoring position.
Edwing Lopez turned in a solid start on the mound for Deer Valley, going four scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out three. Espinoza had the only two-hit game for either team.
