Redondo wrote the final chapter to its storybook season Saturday when a patient – yet strong – offense and the arm of a junior pitcher helped the Sea Hawks win its first CIF championship in the 100-year history of its baseball program.
Redondo jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning in a 10-0 rout of Walnut to capture the CIF Southern Section Division 3 title at San Manuel Stadium in San Bernardino.
The offensive barrage was more than Cooper Gallion needed, tossing a complete-game two-hitter with four strikeouts and two walks in 79 pitches.
“I was really relaxed, it felt really good that my team jumped on them for some runs, and basically I was just trying to throw strikes and keep them off-balance,” said Gallion, who finished the season with an 8-1 record and a 1.37 ERA.
Redondo first five batters reached base against Walnut starting pitch Cody Dye (9-1) who suffered his only loss of the season
Leadoff hitter Duncan McKinnon walked and Jacob Springman reached on an infield single, setting the table for Brady Dorn who has been a clutch hitter for the Sea Hawks all season.
The four-year starter delivered with an RBI single. After Danny Zimmerman was hit by a pitch, Jason Clebowicz walked to score a run. Gallion hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field knocking in his 46th RBI of the season – tops among players in CIF-SS Divisions 1-6.
Marco Valenzuela drove a ball into the gap in left-center field to drive in two more runs. The catcher finished going 2 for 4 with three RBI and two doubles.
“You score five runs in the first inning, that’s exactly the way you want to start a CIF championship game,” Redondo coach Jeff Baumback said. “I thought our guys did a great job first by not going out of the strike zone, and forcing their pitcher to come to us. It’s hard to pitch deep into counts and behind, and he was pitching behind and deep into counts, and we were able to put good swings on the ball at that point. Then Cooper going out and no-hitting for a few innings, you’ve got a really confident feeling at that point.”
Walnut threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Mustangs got their first base runner on a one-out walk. After Clebowicz made the second of his four putouts in center field for the second out, a walk and single by Dye loaded the bases.
A sharp line drive to right field got the Walnut faithful on their feet, but the Sea Hawk’s Matt Hanniff was positioned perfectly to make the out.
Redondo came right back to score five runs in the fifth inning. Gallion started the two-out rally with a triple to right-center field, Valenzuela doubled for the second time in the game and Cole Henderson’s single knocked Dye out of the game.
Christian Longoria, the hero of Walnut’s stunning 4-1 semifinal win over top-seeded San Dimas, walked Jason Dicochea than McKinnon smacked a triple down the right-field line. Springman finished the onslaught with an RBI double.
Springman was 2 for 4 with an RBI and McKinnon was 2 for 3 with two RBIs, two walks and two runs for Redondo.
“Their (Redondo’s) discipline at the plate is stellar,” Walnut head coach Paul Acosta said. “They took advantage of some first-inning walks, had some timely hits and that’s tough to recover from.”
Acosta admitted he had been concerned about an emotional letdown after his squad had eliminated San Dimas, USA Today’s top-ranked team.
“We took an extra to enjoy that but the boys were ready to play,” Acosta said. “We prepared well and were ready to play. I give credit to them (Redondo). Their reputation is that they hit the ball well and we saw that with our own eyes.”
The CIF championship was the second for McKinnon, who won while a sophomore at Serra before transferring to Redondo before his junior year.
“The second one is a lot better than the first, especially with this group of guys,” McKinnon said. “We’re really close. It’s just a great team.”
McKinnon offered advice to his teammates.
“I talked to the players individually and just told them to relax and take in the moment,” McKinnon said.
Dorn had four putouts from his third-base position and was glad to finish his prep career on top.
“I’m so excited, this year we knew we had some talent, we’ve just been working really hard,” Dorn said. “All of us are really close. It’s one thing we can all share together forever.”
Baumback said his team had not been playing well going into the playoffs but his players remained positive and were confident of their abilities after reaching the semifinals last season.
The Sea Hawks dropped their final two games of the regular season to allow rival Mira Costa to grab a share of the Bay League title, but took advantage of three straight playoff home games.
Redondo defeated Charter Oak 6-1, El Segundo 5-0 before eliminating second-seeded Palm Desert with a 6-3 come-from-behind victory.
In a rematch of last year’s semifinals, Redondo avenged its 2014 loss at Bishop Amat with a 6-2 road win.
“We just kind of had the right mix of guys this year to make it happen,” Baumback said after the championship win. “All of the guys who played for me the last five years are a big part of what happened today. They did what I asked them to do, they worked their tails off, they kind of set the tone for what guys coming after them would do.”
The win was particularly fulfilling for Redondo Athletic Director Andy Saltsman who has watched Redondo win CIF titles in girls volleyball and girls basketball during this school year.
“Jeff got here five years ago and was my first hire,” Redondo Athletic Director Andy Saltsman said. “When your first hire gets that first title it’s pretty awesome. The kids have been knocking on the door for league titles that last few years and broke through the door with a co-title this year, but the run they’ve had in the playoffs the last two years and now to win it all in the 100th anniversary of Redondo baseball is very special.”
