NEWHALL – In Jim Ozella’s 25 years of coaching the Hart High baseball team, even he had never seen a game like Thursday’s CIF-SS Division 2 playoff opener against visiting Simi Valley.
The Indians needed 14 innings and heroics from multiple players to outlast the Pioneers and come away with a 5-4, walk-off win.
“It’s a classic right there,” said Ozella, who is retiring at the end of the season. “We started at 3:15. So it’s a four-and-a-half-hour game. And it was intense for the whole game for both sides. And we were down a number of times and we came back. And those guys made some great plays to keep them in the game.”
Hart won when Michigan-bound senior shortstop Brayden Jeffries blistered a deep fly to center field for a sacrifice fly that scored sophomore Hayden Rhodes in the bottom of the 14th.
Sophomore Hayden Rhodes talks with Hart coach Jim Ozella after a playoff victory in 14 innings against Simi Valley on Thursday, May 2. Rhodes had four hits in the game and scored the winning run. (Photo by John Botelho)
Rhodes racked up four hits during extra innings before scoring the winning run.
The Indians players swarmed Jeffries after Rhodes scored the winning run.
“Seeing all my teammates come running, it’s awesome,” said Jeffries. “You know, I wouldn’t want to do it with any other group. And seeing the joy on their faces and just like how much fun that was, it’s awesome. Nothing compares to this.”
Hart advances to the second round Tuesday and will play at Newport Harbor.
Hart needed the timely hitting of junior Brady Werther to reach extra innings.
In the bottom of the seventh, he hit his first varsity homer, a two-run line drive over the fence in right.
Two innings later, he kept Hart alive again, this time ripping a game-tying RBI double in the ninth.
“It felt amazing,” said Werther. “Our pitchers kept us in this one the whole time. I just wanted to come through for the seniors. I didn’t want their season to end. I just felt really confident at the plate all day.”
Hart’s pitching put together one of its best performances of the season. Starter Carson Maymo tossed the first 4 2/3 innings, holding Simi Valley to weak contact as the teams were scoreless in the early innings.
Simi finally broke through in the fifth, scoring three times on just two hits in the inning.
After Werther tied the game in the bottom of the seventh, ace Troy Cooper took the mound and delivered one of his most memorable performances in a Hart uniform.
“He gave it all,” said Jeffries. “He’s the guy that we trust the most. And, you know, when you have that guy go out there, especially in this game, you get a little breath of fresh air on you. You know, he’s going to go out there and do his thing and just be unhittable.”
The Cal Poly San Luis Obisbo commit tossed seven innings of relief, surrendering one hit and one unearned run while striking out six to earn the win.
“It was amazing,” said Werther. “He’s our number one starter. Coming in to relieve is something not many people can do. And he did an incredible job. We stayed in this game thanks to him.”
Related Articles
Orange Lutheran baseball gets past Sierra Canyon in CIF-SS playoffs with shutout
Daily News boys athlete of the week: Dylan Volantis, Westlake
Daily News high school baseball final Top 10
CIF-SS baseball playoffs: Schedule for wild card and first-round games all divisions
Daily News baseball: CIF-SS playoff pairings released
