In a game that had all the drama of a Hollywood script, Granada Hills High School delivered a storybook performance on Wednesday, edging No. 3-seed Bell 2-0 in eight innings during the opening round of the City Section Open Division baseball playoffs. The victory was especially sweet for head coach Matt Matuszak, who has been sleeping on a hospital couch all week after his wife gave birth to their first child—a baby girl. Now, he has even more reason to celebrate.
Senior left-hander Luke Chau was the undisputed star of the day, tossing a complete-game two-hitter with three strikeouts and just one walk. He was nearly untouchable, retiring 21 of the first 22 batters he faced. But Chau wasn't alone in the spotlight. His infield—third baseman Landon Tuch, shortstop Caleb Reclusado, second baseman Adriel Merida, and first baseman Max Szczech—turned in a flawless defensive performance, gobbling up every routine and tough chance. Reclusado alone notched seven assists, a testament to the team's gritty, glove-first approach.
The pitching duel was a classic. Chau matched zeroes with Bell ace Jayden Rojas, who struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings. But when Rojas hit the 96-pitch mark, Bell turned to Adolfo Esquivel in the eighth. That's when Granada Hills broke through. A walk, a single from Tuch, and an RBI base knock from Nick Penaranda put the Highlanders on the board. A perfectly executed bunt then plated an insurance run, sealing the upset.
The win carries extra weight for Granada Hills, which lost to Bell 1-0 in the 2023 semifinals and has struggled in recent playoff runs as a top seed. This year, as the No. 6 seed, the Highlanders leaned on their pitching and defense until they found a way to win—sending their coach off to greet his wife and new daughter with a smile.
Next up: a semifinal rematch against West Valley League rival El Camino Real on Wednesday at Cal State Northridge. The winner punches a ticket to the championship game at Dodger Stadium on May 23.
In other Open Division action, El Camino Real rolled past South Gate 11-0 in five innings, powered by JJ Saffie's three hits and four RBIs and Jackson Sellz's one-hit, five-inning gem on the mound. Carson also advanced with a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win over Garfield, thanks to Xavier Allen's game-winning double.