Crowning achievement

Mike Sciacca

With the school having made championship game appearances in 1981 and

1991, destiny seemed to await the 2001 Edison High baseball team. After

all, 10 years had passed since the Chargers made their way to a final.

Fulfilling that destiny seemed daunting, at times. They were 17-8-1

entering the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs and didn’t enter

the postseason as the Sunset League champions. But something charged

these Chargers come playoff time, and they began to grasp it all by

defeating University, Katella, La Mirada and Mater Dei.

That semifinal win against the second-seeded Monarchs -- Edison’s

second of the season against the parochial school power -- kept Edison’s

10-year title game appearance streak alive. A win last Saturday over

Riverside Poly, however, would give this squad its own history --

Edison’s previous two appearances in the final ended in defeat.

“We definitely believed that we could do this,” junior center fielder

A.J. Martinez said. “This team really came together in the playoffs and

really jelled. Once we got a few wins under our belts, we felt we could

win it all.”

They did win it all, defeating Riverside Poly in the final, 5-0, at

Dodger Stadium.

There were so many key moments in the game, everyone seemed to have a

hand in the triumph. First, there was a spectacular second-inning play by

right fielder Jared Shwam, who tracked down a one-hopper over his head to

come up with a one-hop throw himself, to catcher Cory Vanderhook, who

applied a sweeping tag at the plate to prevent Riverside Poly from taking

a 1-0 lead. Then, there was Marcus McCutcheon, who lined a double in the

fifth inning to score Shwam, giving Edison the only run it would need.

The Chargers took command in the sixth when Chris Branan executed a

perfect squeeze bunt, which scored Steve Webber from third. Martinez then

came up with some heads-up base running to score from second base.

Branan went on to score on a wild pitch and Joey Mozeleski finished

the inning by bringing home the final run on a sacrifice fly.

Then there was the pitching of Dave Huff.

The sophomore left-hander stymied Riverside Poly by throwing a

two-hitter with six strikeouts and a walk. He faced just 24 batters and

didn’t allow Poly a hit past the second inning.

“I was doing the math early in the playoffs, going through our

rotation and thought, if we make it to the final, then I might get the

start on the mound,” said Huff who, along with Mozeleski, was named

co-MVP Sunday at Edison’s team banquet. “It’s a dream that indescribable.

I was exited and a bit nervous at first, but I became more relaxed as the

game went on.”

Huff wanted something to remember his special day by, so he put some

dirt from the pitcher’s mound into a plastic water bottle.

“That’s to always remember this day by,” he said.

Edison could be a favorite to return to Dodger Stadium at the end of

the 2002 season, as the Chargers lose just three seniors from their

roster.

“I’d like to come back here next year and win it again,” Martinez

added. “I think we can do it.”

When the final out was recorded Saturday, pandemonium broke loose on

the Edison side of the field, as wild cheers from the Charger faithful

echoed throughout the cavernous stadium. With it, came the customary dog

pile on the infield. Several Chargers tumbled haphazardly onto the Dodger

Stadium turf, the earth, never tasted so sweet.

“We’ve been here three times now, and it’s a great feeling to finally

win that championship,” said Edison Athletic Director Bruce Belcher. “A

lot of things go into winning a championship, things such as hard work,

talent and a little luck here and there. This team had it all. I’m just

happy for our coaches and our kids -- just seeing the looks on their

faces was worth everything.”