NEWPORT BEACH – Santa Margarita senior Brennan Bauer is not an overpowering pitcher.
But he is a smart one.
Bauer changed speeds and worked all areas of the plate Thursday as he threw a three-hitter in Santa Margarita’s 2-0 win over Newport Harbor in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 baseball playoff game at Newport Harbor High.
The Eagles (17-12) will play at Huntington Beach (24-4) in the second round Tuesday. Huntington Beach is No. 1 and Santa Margarita is No. 3, behind Orange Lutheran, in this week’s Orange County rankings.
Bauer had only three strikeouts, and two of those were in the seventh and final inning. He walked only one on his way to getting his 20th career high school win.
Newport Harbor, No. 4 in the county rankings, finished 22-6. The 22 wins is the most in Sailors baseball history.
Bauer tried to approach Thursday’s game as just another game.
“I woke up this morning, said a prayer and did what I normally do,” Bauer said.
Bauer, who went into the game with a 7-3 record and a 2.93 ERA, said his performance Thursday ranks “in my top three, for sure” because of his pinpoint control.
“It was probably one of my best command days,” Bauer said.
Santa Margarita coach Chris Malec said it was typical game for Bauer, a 5-9 right-hander who plans to pitch next year at Saddleback College. Malec said Bauer is at his best in bigger games.
“He was able to throw four different pitches at any point in the count and he kept guys off balance,” Malec said. “He’s not a strikeout guy. He relies on our defense and our defense did a really good job of taking care of the baseball.”
Santa Margarita scored its runs in the top of the first inning.
Leadoff batter Brody Schumaker walked on a 3-2 pitch and went to second base when Chase Marlow reached on an error. A double steal put Schumaker on third base and Marlow on second. Gavin Spiridonoff lined a base hit to right field to drive in Schumaker and Marlow for a 2-0 lead.
Newport Harbor pitcher Gavin Guy was excellent from there. He allowed only four hits over the next five innings and got a strikeout with two men on base to end the third inning.
Santa Margarita has a recent playoff history with Huntington Beach. The Eagles lost at Huntington Beach 3-2 in eight innings in last season’s Division 1 quarterfinals. They lost 1-0 at Huntington Beach in the Division 1 first round in 2021.
“It’s always a great atmosphere there,” Malec said. “Huntington is a well-coached, talented team. It’s always a tremendous game.”
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