Sylmar baseball wins City Division I title on Victor Carrera’s walk-off hit
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LOS ANGELES — The message was simple, but it meant everything to Sylmar shortstop Victor Carrera in a high-pressure moment.
“Coach (Ray Rivera) just pulled me aside during Kennedy’s mound visit and said, ‘There’s nobody better,’” Carrera said. “It gave me the confidence.”
Carrera hit a hard, bases-loaded ground ball that slashed through the right side of the infield to score Adrian Jaime in the bottom of the seventh inning and give Sylmar a 1-0 victory over Kennedy in the LA City Section Division I final Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
The victory gave the Spartans their first City crown since 1980.
“It means so much to me that the community was able to witness this and experience it,” Rivera said. “It’s great the boys were able to get this experience, have fun with it and walk away with a win.”
Sylmar junior Matthew Benzor threw a complete-game shutout with six strikeouts, allowing five hits and walking just one.
“I just hit my spots. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my defense,” Benzor said.
Benzor’s best moment came when he closed out the third inning with a strikeout with Kennedy runners on first and third base.
“I just kept thinking about putting my team in the best position to win,” he added.
Sylmar’s Victor Carrera hits a walk-off single to beat Kennedy in the bottom of the 7th, 1-0.
Pitcher Matthew Benzor throws a complete game shutout with 6Ks.
Spartans win their first City title since 1980. pic.twitter.com/p8CjqDHIs2
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
Sylmar was knocking on the door to score in the fifth and sixth innings. Kennedy shortstop Fernando Silva made a nice scoop and putout for the third out in the fifth with Sylmar runners on second and third base.
The play of the game came in the sixth when Kennedy right fielder Santiago Torres heaved a perfect toss to catcher Sebastian Castellano to nail Emilio Ochoa out at home plate to keep the game scoreless.
Kennedy starter Oscar Patron threw 6 1/3 innings with five strikeouts, allowing six hits and walking three. Cougars first baseman Luis Mendoza went 2 for 3. Sylmar’s Cesar Morales was 2 for 2 with a double and a walk.
A dropped third strike allowed Sylmar’s Adrian Jaime to reach base to start the final inning. Hector Martinez’s sacrifice bunt moved Jaime over before freshman Alex Martinez was intentionally walked and Cesar Morales singled to load the bases.
Benzor was in the hole and watched Cerrera’s heroics unfold right in front of the Sylmar dugout.
“Right when I saw Victor’s hit get through, I knew we did it,” Benzor said.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
Everyone wants a piece of the City Section Division I champs. The Sylmar Spartans pic.twitter.com/3D7JjtD8wX
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
Birmingham coach Matt Mowry gives Sylmar coach Ray Rivera a big hug after winning the City Division I crown.
Two good dudes. pic.twitter.com/61G8t2Vmj4
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
Mr. Clutch. Sylmar’s Victor Carrera pic.twitter.com/0STaX8blkT
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
Outstanding play by Kennedy right fielder Santiago Torres to throw out Sylmar’s Emilio Ochoa at home plate.
Keeps the game scoreless at 0-0. T7 pic.twitter.com/pNAl4fHCgp
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
Kennedy’s Fernando Silva makes the play from shortstop to get the third out with Sylmar runners on 2nd and 3rd.
We go to the 6th inning. 0-0 pic.twitter.com/m6kZQsns07
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
Sylmar’s Matthew Benzor gets strikeout number four to get out of the inning with Kennedy runners on 1st and 3rd.
Still 0-0. Heading to B3 pic.twitter.com/AYTLiESlMs
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023
More Sylmar fans (left picture) than Kennedy fans. pic.twitter.com/Tv0drhIvZE
— Tarek Fattal (@Tarek_Fattal) May 27, 2023