Double Up

JSerra baseball walks off Santa Margarita in extra innings for second CIF-SS title

BY ZACH CAVANAGH

Supported by a combined twohit, eight-inning shutout from senior pitchers Ben Reimers and Matt Champion, JSerra junior Dmitri Susidko stepped up at the bottom of the lineup to lace a single down the left field line, score senior pinch runner Jackson Summers from second base and defeat Santa Margarita, 1-0, in walk-off fashion at Blair Field in Long Beach on Friday, May 19.

“What an atmosphere tonight! What a ball game!” JSerra coach Brett Kay said. “Last year, I think we said (Dominic Smaldino’s go-ahead, sixth-inning single over Notre Dame for the CIF-SS title) was the biggest in JSerra history. I think D (Susidko) gets that rank right now. I’m so proud of the boys. I’m so proud of the program. I’m proud of all my coaching staff. What a game. What a victory.”

This is the second CIF-SS championship in program history for JSerra in its third consecutive Division 1 Final. In consecutive seasons, the Lions overcame early-season adversity to storm to the Division 1 title.

In 2022, JSerra opened the season 6-9 overall and 1-6 in the Trinity League before a run of 17 wins in 18 games to earn the No. 2 seed in Division 1 and win the program’s first CIF-SS title.

This season, JSerra opened the season 3-5, including four straight losses to open their Trinity League schedule. The Lions turned another midseason corner to advance to the title game of the National High School Invitational, clinch a playoff spot on the final day of the regular season and post three playoff shutouts on their way to back-to-back CIF-SS championships.

“It’s an unreal feeling,” said Reimers. “I’ve been with this core group of guys my entire life playing on the same team, playing against them my whole life. Last year, obviously, to get there and win one was special, but to be able get back a second time, solidify our legacy as a team is something I’ll never forget. I love this group so much.”

Reimers, a Stanford commit, and