Preview: Saturday's CIF-SS baseball finals for Laguna Beach, Rancho Alamitos

CIF-SS BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

SATURDAY

DIVISION 8

Rancho Alamitos (15-11) vs. Schurr (15-16)

Where, when: Morongo Field, Rancho Cucamonga, 2 p.m.

Outlook: Rancho Alamitos is making its debut in a CIF-SS baseball championship game. The Vaqueros finished third in the five-team Grove League with a 7-5 league record. In the playoffs they defeated former Garden Grove League rival Los Amigos, 7-5, in the first round; Edgewood, 13-10, in the second round; Chadwick, 4-2, in the quarterfinals; and Oxford Academy, 3-0, in the semifinals.

Rancho Alamitos senior Henry Garcia is batting .381 with 32 hits including 15 doubles in 25 games. Garcia also is the Vaqueros’ star pitcher, with a 10-3 record and a 2.72 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 77⅓ innings. He pitched a complete game in the win over Oxford Academy in the semifinals. Sophomore Jacob Neri (1-1) was Rancho's starting pitcher in the quarterfinals win over Chadwick.

Schurr finished third in the six-team Almont League. In the playoffs the Spartans defeated Hesperia Christian, 2-1, in the first round; Anaheim, 4-1, in the second round; Artesia, 2-1, in the quarterfinals; and Duarte, 4-2, in the semifinals. Schurr trailed Duarte, 2-0, and eventually won with two runs in the top of the eighth inning.

Schurr junior Joseph Tapia is batting .423 with 22 hits and nine doubles in 21 games. The Spartans’ likely starting pitcher Saturday is senior Joey Amano, who is 4-0 with a 2.58 ERA.

DIVISION 4

Laguna Beach (20-11) vs. Glendora (19-11)

Where, when: Cal State Fullerton, 7:30 p.m.

Outlook: Laguna Beach was victorious in its only other trip to the CIF-SS baseball finals. The Breakers won the Division 4 title in 2016. This season Laguna Beach finished third in the eight-team Pacific Coast League with a 9-5 league record. In the playoffs, the Breakers defeated Highland, 3-2, in the first round; Pacific Coast League champion Woodbridge, 7-2, in the second round; Moorpark, 6-4, in the quarterfinals; and Grand Terrace, 2-1, in the semifinals.

Laguna Beach junior Dylan Yencho is batting. 455 with 50 hits and 28 RBIs in 31 games. Yencho also is a relief pitcher and earned the win in the team’s victory over Moorpark in the quartefinals. Parker Moore has a team-leading 30 RBIs. Branson Wade (11-3, 1.23 ERA) pitched in Tuesday's semifinal so Laguna Beach's starting pitcher might be junior Aaron Crosby, who is 5-4 with a 2.04 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 61⅔ innings. Wade could pitch either as a starter or reliever for a few innings.

Glendora finished second in the Palomares League. In the playoffs the Tartans beat St. Anthony, 11-5, in the first round; Katella, 10-6, in the second round; Canyon, 4-3, in the quarterfinals; and Saugus, 3-2, in the semifinals.

Glendora senior Tanner Grable is batting .404 with four home runs and 29 RBIs. Grable also pitches and might be the Tartans’ starter Saturday on the mound. He is 3-7 with a 5.71 ERA.

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This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 10:09 AM.