Marcus Jones

School: Esperanza

Sport: Baseball

Position: Pitcher

Class: Senior

All that stood between Esperanza and the Southern Section Division I baseball title was Simi Valley, the No. 1-ranked team in the nation according to USA Today. Was that a scary piece of information for the Aztecs’ starting pitcher? Hardly. “I don’t let anything bother me,” Jones said. “I don’t care if they are No. 1 in the nation. I just pitch my game.” Jones’ game Wednesday was good enough for a two-hit shutout of Simi Valley in Esperanza’s 3-0 victory. Jones retired the first eight batters and finished with four strikeouts and five walks. It was his third strong performance of the season against a nationally ranked team. In the Upper Deck Classic, he lost a 4-3 decision to then-No. 1 Miami Westminster Christian. In the Division I semifinals, he pitched three scoreless innings against No. 2 Encino Crespi to earn his third save of the season. But the victory in the final was by far the most satisfying, even though Jones’ left (non-pitching) shoulder was separated during the celebratory pileup of players. “It was worth it,” he said.

Other top performers:

* Armando Fonseca had three hits and scored two runs--including the game-winner on a squeeze bunt by Ryan Winmill--in Tustin’s 3-2 victory over La Quinta in the Division III baseball playoffs.

* Poncho Ruiz accounted for all three runs in Esperanza’s 3-0 victory over Simi Valley in the Division I title game. Ruiz drove in two runs and scored the other and was a part of two double plays.

* Steve Wagner, a Santa Margarita freshman, shot two-over-par 73 at Stockdale Country Club in Bakersfield to lead the Eagles to the CIF-Southern California Golf Assn. team title. Wagner had the best score by a county golfer and finished sixth in the individual boys’ event.