Prep Baseball: Palm Desert Uses Late Game Heroics… Again… Advance to C.I.F. Final

Next stop: Dodger Stadium. The Palm Desert Aztecs have shown a flair for the dramatic this season, but nothing like the last two playoff games they’ve survived. Palm Desert scored 2 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to stun Oaks Christian 2-1 and advance to Friday’s C.I.F. Division IV championship game at Dodger Stadium. Both of Palm Desert’s runs came with two outs.

In the 7th inning, Junior 2nd baseman John Schuknecht drew a walk, but remained on first base after two consecutive put-outs. Junior Brooks Kriske, the hero from last week’s 10 inning come-from-behind win, then stepped to the plate and lifted a fastball on a 3-1 count to left-center for a double. Schuknecht raced around to beat the tag at home at tie the game at 1-1. Kriske advanced to third on the throw home. His double was the first extra base hit that Oaks Christian pitcher Travis Radke had given up all season. Cody Kabeary then promptly swung at the first pitch he saw and poked a shot up the middle. The Lions’ second baseman stopped the ball and hurried a throw, but Kabeary arrived safely, allowing Kriske to score. The victorious Aztecs then piled on Kabeary at first base in celebratory fashion.

Palm Desert will play Bishop Amat in the championship game at Chavez Ravine this Friday at 4:30 p.m. The Aztecs already beat Bishop Amat earlier in the season.