Hit and Miss Gives Poly a 4-3 Miracle

SUN VALLEY — Like a bolt of lightning out of a clear-blue sky, Juan Guerrero of Poly High hit a game-winning two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday, leaving players and fans in disbelief.

No dream, no fairy tale and no work of fiction could have imagined the sequence of events that led to Poly’s 4-3 victory over two-time defending City champion El Camino Real in a quarterfinal playoff game at Poly.

El Camino Real (20-7) was ready to launch a victory celebration when George Felix hit a routine ground ball to second baseman Scott Gilmore with two out in the seventh. But Gilmore, one of El Camino Real’s most reliable fielders, booted the ball, allowing Poly’s best hitter, Guerrero, to come to the plate against right-hander Josh Deneau.

On a 2-and-1 count, Guerrero hit an opposite-field homer over the right-field fence. It wiped out a 3-2 deficit and sent the delirious Parrots (24-7) into a semifinal game on Tuesday against Kennedy.

Stunned El Camino Real players were virtual statues on the field, trying to accept defeat. Gilmore rested on his stomach for more than a minute, face down.

Poly players mobbed Guerrero. Hundreds of Poly fans who packed the stands and even lined up outside the fences to watch the game could hardly believe what had happened.

“It’s a miracle, I swear to God,” Felix said.

Added Coach Chuck Schwal of Poly: “They had to pinch me because I didn’t know what was happening, it was so surreal.”

“It’s better than a dream,” Guerrero said. “I was thinking home run when I stepped up to the plate. I was swinging for the fences and connected. I was rounding second and it felt like, ‘Is this actually happening?’ And we won.”

Deneau (6-4) pitched brilliantly, limiting the Parrots to seven hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

El Camino Real held a 3-1 lead through five innings on the strength of a two-run single by Michael Grossman and an RBI triple by Brian Somoza, who had three hits.

But Poly was able to stay close behind senior Carlos Reguengo (13-2), who struck out eight and pitched a six-hitter.

El Camino Real’s defeat ends a remarkable decade of success for the Conquistadores, who won four City championships and made it to Dodger Stadium five times in the 1990s.

“That was a hard one to take,” said first-year Coach Bob Ganssle of El Camino Real. “You know what the saying is, ‘It’s never over until it’s over.’

“What happened is we allowed their best hitter to come to the plate and he clutched up and was heroic.”

Poly is one victory from reaching Dodger Stadium and the City Championship game. Four times in school history the Parrots have finished second.

Whatever happens the rest of the season, Guerrero has left his mark in the history of Poly baseball.

“Oh my God--that was unbelievable,” Schwal said.