Baseball: Pitchers back in control in Division I semifinal

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Pitchers Ian McCarthy of Mater Dei and Nick Russo of fourth-seeded Simi Valley both got out of the second inning without giving up any runs, so it’s Mater Dei holding on to a 4-3 lead in the Southern Section-Toyota Division I semifinal.

McCarthy has been helped by two dazzling defensive plays in the outfield. Left fielder Seth Smith made a running catch in the first inning, and right fielder Jacob Medina made a backhanded grab of a fly ball in the second.

The stars for the two teams have come out hitting. Brent Keys of Simi Valley and Tyler Rahmatulla of Mater Dei each have two hits in two at-bats.

-- Eric Sondheimer