SOUTHERN SECTION 1-A BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Hendren Gets the Ticket, Orange Lutheran the Ride

ANAHEIM —  Matt Hendren, Orange Lutheran High School’s ace right-hander, was in a hurry Tuesday afternoon.

Hendren got tagged by an Anaheim motorcycle officer for speeding on the way to the Lancers’ Southern Section 1-A semifinal game at Canyon High School.

But at least he didn’t get tagged with a loss.

Hendren struck out seven in a complete-game, 4-1, victory over Crossroads, leading Orange Lutheran into a championship final for only the third time in the school’s history.

It wasn’t easy for Hendren (10-4), however, as he walked seven batters and escaped jams in the fifth and sixth innings.

“That’s the way it is with Matt,” Orange Lutheran Coach John Malmquist said. “His walks seem to come in pairs. He was all excited before the game, and that’s why he got the traffic ticket. He was excited during the game, and that’s why he had all the walks.”

Hendren walked two batters in the fifth and two more in the sixth, but both times Crossroads (18-6) had runners caught off third in rundown plays after failed squeeze attempts.

Malmquist called pitchouts on both plays.

“We knew (Crossroads Coach Chuck Ice) was going to be doing aggressive things,” Malmquist said. “We had a good scouting report on them.”

Hendren singled in the first and scored on a throwing error by second baseman Tony Temblador.

Crossroads tied the game in the second, when Anthony Mandler’s single drove in pitcher Dan Ripoll (7-3), who had tripled.

The Lancers picked up the winning run in the third on doubles by Jeff Courvoisier and Mic Buehler. They padded their lead in the sixth on a Jason Presley single and four walks.

Orange Lutheran (19-8) will face defending champion Montclair Prep (20-3) for the title at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Blair Field in Long Beach.

The Lancers, who finished third in the Olympic League behind Whitney and Valley Christian, are making their first trip to a section final since 1983.