The Hart High baseball team celebrates a 7-2 win over in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Hart High baseball team celebrates a 7-2 win over in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts high coach James Ozella talks with pitcher Ian Edwards, #6, during game action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Hart High’s pictcher, Carson Maymo, #10, celebrates after leaving the mound during a successful session against Arcadia in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
The Hart High baseball does the tomahawk on their way to a win over Arcadia in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Ryan DeLaMaza, #4, beats the tag attempt by Arcadia’s Damian Catano, #22, during first inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Eddie Gutierrez, #11, got the throw in time to get Arcadia’s Fernando Palencia, #8, at first base but was called safe by the umpires during second inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Zachary Rogozik, #30, is greeted by teammates after scoring during the fourth inning in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Hart High’s pictcher, Carson Maymo, #10, celebrates after leaving the mound during a successful session against Arcadia in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Matthew Perez, #22, is safe at second base as Arcadia’s Isaiah Spencer, #3, can’t make the tag during second inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Hayden Rhodes, #16, slides under the tag of Arcadia’s Jordan Vogel, #21, and is safe at second base during second inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Michael Hogen, #27, is greeted by teammates after scoring during 5th inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Arcadia’s Keyonn Chatman, #2, runs for third base during third inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Jaiden Chathle, #18, is greeted by teammates after scoring during fourth inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Arcadia’s pitcher Keyonn Chatman started against Hart in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ closer Ian Edwards, #6, pitches against Arcadia in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Hart High’s pictcher, Carson Maymo, #10, started against Arcadia in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Brayden Jefferis, #2, could come up with only dirt on this base hit by Arcadia’s Keyonn Chatman during third inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ Matthew Perez, #22, lays down a bunt during fourth inning action in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Harts’ closer Ian Edwards, smiles after striking out his first batter in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Arcadia’s head coach Nick Lemas talks with his team during the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals at Hart high on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Hart defeated Arcadia 7-2. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
NEWHALL — Jim Ozella’s last ride just keeps going.
The Hart baseball team beat Arcadia 7-2 in the Division 2 semifinals on Tuesday to give their head coach one last shot at winning a CIF Southern Section title before his 25-year coaching career comes to a close with his retirement.
“I’m not a big attention seeker,” Ozella said. “For me, the best thing about this whole deal is the smiles and the excitement of our players. This is the culmination of working hard and they see it in front of them and they’ve seen it in front of them for a while now and they see that they’re getting better.”
Hart (25-5) will play Moorpark (19-10-1) in the Division 2 final on Friday or Saturday at Lake Elsinore Diamond.
It’ll be the first championship appearance for the program since 2015 when Hart beat Saugus 3-2 in 10 innings in the semifinals to reach the Division 1 final.
“It feels amazing,” Hart pitcher Carson Maymo said. “Especially since last time we came up short and we lost it. But I’m really confident with the team that we have this year that we’re going to win.”
Maymo held down Arcadia’s bats from the mound through 5 2/3 innings. He gave up three hits while recording three strikeouts and walking two batters.
Arcadia (22-8) scored two unearned runs in that timeframe.
“We’re a pretty young team, aside from our two pitchers,” Arcadia coach Nick Lemas said. “So I think it was a great learning experience for all of us.”
Arcadia’s Jerry Carlos hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Fernando Pancia in the top of the second inning and Keyonn Chatman, who reached first on an error, beat the throw home in the top of the third inning.
Left fielder Ryan Werther, a converted catcher, caught three fly balls for outs in the game.
Jaiden Chathle singled to score Hayden Rhodes in the bottom of the second inning and Hart tied the game at 2-2 when Werther’s sacrifice fly allowed Chathle to score.
Hart scored five runs in the fifth inning despite only recording one base hit. Taj Brar and Michael Hogan both singled, then Zachary Rogozik came in as a pinch runner for Brar. Hart pushed the runs across home plate with two batters hit by pitches, a passed ball and two sacrifice flies.
“There was a little frustration early on,” Ozella said. “We get picked off and swinging at a bad pitch. We harp on those little things. Now all of a sudden in the fifth, things started to kind of go our way. There’s a time to hit and here’s the time to hit. When you got them on the ropes, go get them.”
Ian Edwards, a submarine-style pitcher, threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief after coming in for Maymo.
Ozella confirmed that Troy Cooper, Hart’s ace, will start in the championship game.
Whoever is on the mound, on the field or up to bat — Hart is united in its championship motivations.
“I’m honored to play with (Ozella) because he’s a legend,” Maymo said. “I want to get him this title because he doesn’t have one. Not only do I want to win for the team, but I want to win for him just because of everything he’s done for me.”
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