La Mirada baseball scores 4 runs in 7th to beat Gahr in Gateway showdown

La Mirada senior pitcher Connor Jones, right, reacts with catcher Jacob Celiz after the Matadores came from behind to beat Gahr 6-3 on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. Connor entered the game in the sixth inning with his team trailing 3-2. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)La Mirada’s Maverek Russell is waved home and goes on to score one of four seventh-inning runs in a come-from-behind 6-3 win over rival Gahr on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos.

(Photo by Howard Freshman, ContributingLa Mirada head coach Jimmy Zurn saw his team score four runs in the seventh inning in a come-from-behind 6-3 win over rival Gahr on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)La Mirada center fielder Noah Rodriguez chases down a fly ball off the bat of Gahr’s Ben Heapy for the final out of the bottom of the sixth inning on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Adrien Ramirez scores one of Gahr’s three first-inning runs against La Mirada on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos.



(Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)La Mirada players react in the dugout just two outs away from a 6-3 come-from-behind win over Gahr on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Aaron Sykes lays down an RBI bunt in the top of the seventh inning to give La Mirada a lead over Ghar on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. The Matadores scored four runs in the inning and won the game in dramatic fashion 6-3.

(Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Gahr’s Adrien Ramirez, right, is tagged out in a rundown by La Mirada shortstop Jesse Colon in the third inning on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)La Mirada’s Maverek Russell is safe at the plate in the seventh inning during a dramatic come-from-behind 6-3 win over rival Gahr on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Gahr starting pitcher Juan Carlos Munoz delivers a pitch with a runner on first in the third inning against La Mirada on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos.

(Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Gahr junior Andres Gonzalez reacts after his leadoff double against La Mirada on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Gahr junior Nate Guangorena connects for a first inning RBI single against La Mirada on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)La Mirada’s Luke Armijo pitched five innings in the Matadores’ 6-3 win over Gahr on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos.

(Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)Show Caption1 of 13La Mirada senior pitcher Connor Jones, right, reacts with catcher Jacob Celiz after the Matadores came from behind to beat Gahr 6-3 on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Gateway League action in Cerritos. Connor entered the game in the sixth inning with his team trailing 3-2. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)ExpandCERRITOS — The La Mirada baseball team was two outs away from dropping the first two games of a key three-game series between the top two teams in the Gateway League.

The Matadores’ bats were mostly silent through six innings Wednesday, including Gahr relief pitcher Matt Sandoval’s efficient first inning of work in six pitches.But the Gladiators’ defense, which showed earlier moments of shakiness, created another window of opportunity for the Matadores.An error ignited a four-run seventh inning and La Mirada relied on fundamental small ball for a 6-3 victory at Gahr.

The teams will meet again Friday at La Mirada in the rubber match.Matadores coach Jimmy Zurn credited his team’s resolve after dropping a wild 10-2 decision in extra innings Tuesday in the first game of the series and overcoming a three-run deficit through one inning Wednesday.“Our bats came alive late and we executed late,” Zurn said.

“The difference today was we had big moments when it mattered.”Trailing 3-2 with one out in the seventh, La Mirada (17-5, 9-1) was gifted a runner after Jesse Colon reached base via error on the left side of the Gahr infield.Gladiators coach Gerardo Perez noted the irony after shortstop Oscar Grijalva made a slick diving play to produce the first out of the inning.

“You take the good with the bad,” Perez said.Gahr (10-8, 4-1), which yielded just four hits to that point, then unraveled after La Mirada produced five singles and had a batter intentionally walked. The rally included a pair of well-executed, run-scoring suicide squeeze bunts.

Matadores first baseman Jason Rodriguez tied the game 3-3 on a liner into center field over Grijalva’s leaping attempt. Pinch-runner Travis Friend scored from second on the hit despite stumbling while rounding third, recovering in time to slide into home ahead of the throw.“(Sandoval) hung a slider and I didn’t miss it,” Rodriguez said.

“I felt like I knew they were going to pitch me backward after my last at-bat...

so I was kind of expecting it. When I saw it, I just jumped on it.”Rodriguez finished with two RBIs on a pair of singles and scored twice.

T7: La Mirada ties it 3-3, Jason Rodriguez on the game-tying RBI single. Runner fell rounding third but got in safely @johnwdavis @BeachVarsity pic.twitter.

com/zhmRQdNeT5— Tracy McDannald (@Tracy_McDannald) April 17, 2025Right fielder Kevin Jeon was then promptly walked intentionally to load the bases, setting the stage for pinch-hitter Aaron Skyes.Earlier in the at-bat, Skyes fouled off a pitch on a safety squeeze attempt. Regardless, Zurn got more aggressive and sent Maverek Russell, who was at third base, on the pitch home.

Sykes didn’t miss his second chance and gave La Mirada its first lead.“It’s what we work on in practice and that’s just the situational hitting that we need to win ballgames like this,” Skyes said.T7: Now La Mirada takes the 4-3 lead on a one-out suicide squeeze bunt by pinch-hitter Aaron Sykes @BeachVarsity @johnwdavis pic.

twitter.com/wKiByaBSYW— Tracy McDannald (@Tracy_McDannald) April 17, 2025The Matadores then tacked on an RBI single from Ian Nunez and a second RBI suicide squeeze from Jaeden Estevez, who never drew a throw running to first because the base was left uncovered.Zurn said the message to his players since the start of the season was “we’re not just going to be able out-hit everybody.

”“We are going to be in games where we’re going to have to execute small ball and execute situational hitting,” he continued. “Obviously, we executed today and that’s why we’re on the right side.”Perez, meanwhile, said it was the opposite for his team after making three errors past the third inning and not fielding the bunts properly.

“They bunted a couple of times and we couldn’t get an out,” Perez said. “We didn’t have people covering and we made some mistakes, made some errors. Late in a game, any time you give guys an opportunity — four, five, six extra outs — it’s gonna be tough.

”La Mirada starting pitcher Luke Armijo shook off the rocky opening inning and battled through five innings. Reliever Connor Jones, who was credited with the win, struck out three over the final two perfect innings.Gahr starter Juan Carlos Munoz left with the lead after five innings.

He allowed two runs on four hits, struck out three and walked one.“He’s done that all year,” Perez said. “He keeps his composure, he throws strikes, doesn’t walk a whole lot of people.

But he’s only a sophomore, so two years later he probably finishes that game.”The Gladiators were unable to tack onto the early advantage that included a pair of doubles, a single, a hit batter, a passed ball, a wild pitch and a safety squeeze of their own in a taxing first frame for Armijo.Gahr sent seven batters to the plate and catcher Nate Guangorena’s RBI single capped the quick start.

Zurn was proud of Armijo for settling in immediately after and of Jones for finishing out the victory.“In the last two innings, (Jones) faced six batters. The fact we knew they probably weren’t going to get anything else off him was huge,” Zurn said.

“(Armijo) beared down and kept ’em there. That’s all they got the rest of the way and that just gave us a chance to stay in it.”Related ArticlesSGV roundup: South Hills lefty Joseph Moreno throws no hitter against Los AltosMuir, Pasadena and Marshall can’t use baseball, softball fields during lead testingSGV baseball Top 10: La Mirada on top, ahead of Arcadia, Bishop AmatColony pitcher Steven Gonzales tosses shutout against San DimasCalifornia rallies to beat Santa Fe in Del Rio League baseball.