Grace Brethren Reaches Familiar Setting

It has been a busy, bustling few years at Grace Brethren High of Simi Valley, but one thing remains constant.

At the end of baseball season, the Lancers usually win a championship.

Once again, Grace Brethren is appearing in the Southern Section Division VI final, this time against No. 3-seeded Bloomington Christian (23-0) at 4:30 p.m. today at Blair Field in Long Beach.

The top-seeded Lancers (22-4), who start seven seniors, have battled injuries, academic ineligibility and the pressure of trying to win their third consecutive Division VI title.

“You look at the teams that have tried to repeat and three-peat, and it’s always been difficult,” Coach Aaron Marcarelli said. “Everybody plays their best game against us because we’re two-time defending champions. When you’re trying to do it for a third straight time, there’s a lot of stuff that comes your way. It’s just how you deal with it.”

They managed to deal accordingly in each of the last two seasons.

Two years ago, the Lancers lost in the quarterfinals but were reinstated because their opponent used an ineligible player. The Lancers’ coach at the time, Dan Pierce, resigned after the game and was not allowed by the school to return, leaving assistant Jim Thompson to guide Grace Brethren to the title.

Last year, Marcarelli, a former minor league shortstop, took over the program and guided Grace Brethren to a worry-free season. The Lancers proved 1998 was more than a championship earned in part by a technicality. They never trailed in a playoff game and defeated Rio Hondo Prep, 6-2, in the title game.

This year, Grace Brethren’s season featured senior pitcher Tim Thompson setting the state record for career victories.

Thompson, who has 55 victories, last month surpassed Scott McGregor, who had 51 victories for El Segundo from 1969-72.

Perhaps the only low point for the Lancers was a midseason streak. They lost consecutive games to Oxnard, Channel Islands and Kilpatrick.

“In the middle of the year, we had a senioritis type of deal,” Marcarelli said. “We had to refocus a little bit and say, ‘Hey, do we want this thing?’ ”

It’s obvious what the players’ answer was.

Grace Brethren captured its third consecutive Heritage League title and has won three playoff games by a combined 35-5 score. The team had a bye in the first round.

The Lancers will not start Thompson (16-2, 0.77 earned-run average), who pitched six innings in an 11-3 semifinal victory over Rio Hondo Prep on Tuesday. He can pitch four innings before exceeding the weekly 10-inning limit.

Shawn McClain (4-1, 1.75 ERA) will start, with Thompson an option in relief.

Grace Brethren defeated Bloomington Christian, 6-5, in the semifinals last season on a play at the plate.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, a Bloomington Christian runner was ruled out of the baseline while executing a hook slide at home. No run, no tie score, no advancing to the title game for the Ravens.

“To us, this is an extension of that game,” Coach Steve Avalos said. “We want to play Grace one more time. To beat them means we’ve really turned our baseball program around.”

Avalos has more freedom with his ace than Grace Brethren. Blaise Mikkelson (9-0, 1.17 ERA) pitched only three innings Tuesday in a 6-4 semifinal victory over La Verne Lutheran. He can pitch seven innings today.

Bloomington Christian is less experienced than Grace Brethren. The Ravens, playing in their first division final, start three sophomores and a freshman.

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BASEBALL PLAYOFFS

SOUTHERN SECTION

Division IV Final

Saturday, 1 p.m.

Notre Dame vs. San Luis

Obispo at Dodger Stadium

Division VI Final

Today, 4:30 p.m.

Grace Brethren vs.

Bloomington Christian at

Blair Field in Long Beach