Sherman Oaks Notre Dame sent a clear message to the rest of Southern California: the No. 1 seed is not invincible. Senior backup pitcher Lachlan Clark delivered a masterful performance Friday, tossing a four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and zero walks to lead the Knights to a 4-0 victory over top-ranked Norco in the Southern Section Division 1 baseball playoffs.
Clark, who recently committed to Long Beach State, was so confident in his ability that he posted old video from his Sherman Oaks Little League days with the caption, "Bring it on." He backed up every word, keeping Norco's potent lineup off balance all afternoon. The win advances Notre Dame (2-0 in Pool A) to next Friday's quarterfinals, while Norco now faces a must-win elimination game Tuesday against Ayala.
"Clark had been waiting for his moment," said teammates after the game. The right-hander previously shined in the National Classic, striking out 10 over 6⅔ innings against De La Salle. With an injury to Beckett Berg, Clark has stepped into the No. 2 starter role and looks more than ready for the postseason spotlight.
Notre Dame's offense provided all the support Clark needed, highlighted by catcher Jacob Madrid's 12th home run of the season. After the victory, 10 Knights players celebrated with co-coach Tom Dill at grad night at Magic Mountain—a well-earned trip for a team that just knocked off the top seed.
In other Division 1 action, St. John Bosco edged Sierra Canyon 4-3 to win their pool and advance to the quarterfinals. The game was tied 3-3 until a passed ball in the sixth inning allowed the go-ahead run. Noah Everly drove in two runs, while Troy Sibolboro delivered 3⅔ innings of scoreless relief. Sierra Canyon's Carl McMullan had two hits and two RBIs, but his team now faces an elimination game Tuesday against Cypress.
La Mirada flexed its muscles with a 9-0 win over Temecula Valley, powered by Ian Aguayo's two-run homer during a six-run fourth inning. The Matadores will next face Huntington Beach. Cypress also impressed, defeating Oaks Christian 8-2 behind Noah Johnson's three-hit performance and Tate Belfanti's eight strikeouts over four innings. Cypress now meets Sierra Canyon in Tuesday's elimination round.