SAN JOSE — Pitching has been the key to success this season for both the Valley Christian and Serra baseball teams. And when those two ball clubs, the two top-ranked teams in the Central Coast Section, met Tuesday at Valley Christian, which team pitched better was expected to be the biggest single influence on the outcome.
Junior southpaw Quinten Marsh was up for the occasion, throwing a complete-game four-hitter, allowing one unearned run, to lead Valley Christian to a 4-1 victory and into a tie with Serra on top of the West Catholic Athletic League standings.
Valley Christian, now 16-2 overall and 4-1 in the WCAL, went into the game with a 1.20 team ERA. Serra (13-3, 4-1) had its team ERA rise to 1.52 after one of its co-aces, Sam Kretsch (4-1, 1.83), incurred his first loss of the season.
Marsh, who has already committed to Stanford as a junior, is now 6-2 on the season.
“Today what was really working for me was my slider,” Maths said. “They weren’t biting on my changeup early. Just knowing my defense behind me was making great plays gave me a lot of confidence.”
Valley Christian baseball players celebrate their 4-1 win over Serra High during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The most spectacular defensive play was turned in by left-handed Valley Christian left fielder Hunter Fujimoto, who reached across his body to make a diving catch in left-center for the third out in the top of the fourth.
Fujimoto, who is headed to Santa Clara to play college baseball, also scored Valley’s first run in the bottom of the third after reaching base, stealing second and scoring on Nathan Choi’s double.
“I kind of pride myself on being that spark plug, getting everybody in the right mindset,” he said.
Marsh also sparked Valley’s three-run fourth-inning rally with a leadoff single, taking second when the center fielder didn’t come up with the ball cleanly. He came around to score the go-ahead run after a single by Brock Ketelsen and another Serra error.
That run brought the Warriors even. Serra had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Ian Armstrong tripled to score Ian Josephson.
“I thought our offensive approach was pretty good against a really quality arm,” Serra coach Mat Keplinger said. “I thought we hit some balls well, but the difference today was defense. They outplayed us defensively and that was the difference in the game.”
Serra’s Jake Downing (2) makes a catch for an out as Lucas Schumaker (24) looks on during a West Catholic Athletic League game against Valley Christian High at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
That first-inning run was all Marsh gave up.
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“He’s calm, cool and collected,” Valley Christian coach John Diatte said. “Not a lot of things affect him. He’s always competitive and any time you can put a guy on the mound who’s competitive, you’ve got a chance to win.”
Center fielder Tatum Marsh, Quinten’s older brother, is also headed to Stanford.
“They’re quality kids, we couldn’t ask for better kids,” Diatte said.
Serra will host Valley in the second game of the series on Friday.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy,” Keplinger said. “We’re looking forward to responding at home on Friday.”
Valley Christian’s Quinten Marsh (24) is mobbed by teammates after he scored a run against Serra High during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Serra’s Joey Damelio (4) makes a catch for a out during a West Catholic Athletic League game against Valley Christian High at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Serra’s Jake Downing (2) and Lucas Schumaker (24) avoid a collision after trying to make a catch on a fly ball against Valley Christian High during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Serra pitcher Sam Kretsch (14) throws against Valley Christian High during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian’s Luke Osuna-Summers (2) holds the ball on his attempt to make a double play after forcing Serra’s Davis Minton (5) out at second during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian catcher Jordan Ortiz (5) and teammates take the mound as they celebrate their 4-1 win over Serra High during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Valley Christian center fielder Tatum Marsh (4) makes a catch for the last out of their 4-1 win over Serra High during a West Catholic Athletic League game at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)