Crespi Loses Lead, Game to Spoiler

Crespi High became the second upset victim of upstart San Clemente in as many Southern Section playoff games, losing, 7-3, in a Division I first-round game Friday at Valley College.

San Clemente (18-10), which defeated perennial power Esperanza, 4-2, in a wild-card game Tuesday, overcame a 3-1 deficit and held the Celts to two hits after the third inning.

The Tritons escaped unscathed in the seventh, when reliever Jeff Goodman entered with one out and the bases loaded and struck out Mike Jackson and Joel Garcia.

San Clemente’s defense did the rest, turning an inning-ending double play in the fourth and benefiting from two impressive catches in the outfield.

Afterward, players from Crespi (22-6), ranked No. 4 in The Times’ regional poll, seemed in shock.

“A little bit, yes,” designated hitter Tim Leveque said. “I certainly was expecting to win today.”

Jackson (10-3), a senior left-hander, was tagged for three runs in the pivotal fourth inning, when San Clemente took the lead.

Jackson pitched well, striking out seven and walking one. But the Tritons, particularly their relievers, pitched better.

Sophomore right-hander Scott Schroer threw 11 consecutive balls to begin the first inning but allowed only one run on Leveque’s sacrifice fly. Nolan Moser (6-2) allowed only one hit in three innings before yielding to Goodman, the staff ace.

Crespi scored a run in each of the first three innings, but a rally was short-circuited in the third by a sliding catch by left fielder Nick Lentine that stranded a runner at second.