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Oaks Christian pitcher Joseph Steventon frustrates La Quinta, throws complete game in 1-0 Division 3 Southern Section title win

Steventon struck out four in the win, Oaks Christian's second ever Section title in baseball.

FULLERTON, Calif. -- Oaks Christian pitcher Joseph Steventon needed just a single run of support on Saturday night. The junior threw a complete game shutout striking out four to lead Oaks Christian to a 1-0 win over La Quinta in the Division 3 Southern Section championship game. 

"I trusted my defense," Steventon said. "Coming into the game I knew La Quinta could hit and I knew they could ball. I just knew that as long as I let them hit the ball and see what they could do with it, I have one insane defense behind me and I'm just gonna trust them and see what happens."

From the first inning, Steventon trusting his defense proved to be a winning formula. Oaks Christian left fielder Thomas Farmer gunned down Brandon Leon trying to score on a sacrifice fly in the first. Later in the game, Oaks Christian recorded five outs in a row on La Quinta fly outs.

The Lions scored their lone run in the game in the third inning when La Quinta pitcher Julian Cazares walked Farmer with the bases loaded to score Jaden Onaca. Oaks Christian only had two hits in the game. La Quinta had six.

LA QUINTA FRUSTRATED POSTGAME

After outhitting Oaks Christian, La Quinta head coach Brian Wisler thought his team was unlucky.

"I hate to probably say I think that's a team that we beat nine out of ten times," he said. "That's baseball, there's nothing you can do."

Wisler also felt like Cazares should have gotten out of the third inning before walking in the run. He disagreed with a couple ball calls. 

"If we get those two strikeouts [instead of walks] we're not talking about [Julian] walking three guys and hitting a batter, I mean we're not."