INLAND FIELDHOUSE

Correspondent Harvey Cohen (@harveycoleslaw) is covering the Goleta Dos Pueblos-Redlands East Valley CIF-Southern Section Division 2 Semifinal Round game for Inland Empire Community News/(iecn.com).

First pitch is schedule for 3:15 p.m. at Redlands (Calif.) East Valley High School.

THE LOW DOWN:
Dos Pueblos (23-8 overall, five-time defending Channel champions) had playoff wins over Arcadia, Villa Park, and Yucaipa. Coach George Hedricks has as stout pitching staff, led by Cio Macias, who had best game of career v. YHS pitching that held REV to one run in two games. If his arm is healthy, Darby Naughton is nasty, rested and will start with Kevin Barker and Austin Bull ready in relief. Josh Fieldhouse raised batting average to .402. Slugger Dustin Demeter, 6 home runs, .375. Streaking Colter Nisbet could be a problem.

Redlands East Valley (22-7 overall, Citrus Belt co-champion) has wins over Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills, and league champions Cerritos Gahr, and La Mirada. Coach James Cordes’ team has won 14 of last 15. Junior Ryan Silva, 6-4, 1.00 ERA, will start after pitching a complete game 1-0 win over No. 2 seed Gahr last Tuesday. Andrew Miner, 9-0, 1.06 ERA, threw a lot of pitches in five innings Friday in quarterfinal 15-7 win over La Mirada. Reliever Noah Moya has four saves. Has higher team batting average, lower ERA and 68 steals than DP. Paul Rojas .457, 42 hits, 17 steals. Justin Wear (.397 BA) drove in only run v. Gahr. Catcher Kyle Underwood has a good arm.

KEY PLAYERS:
Dos Pueblos — Darby Naughton, Jr. (5-foot-11, 155 pounds); Dustin Demeter, Sr. (6-1, 180); Cio Macias, Sr. (5-8, 155); Josh Fieldhouse, Jr. (5-10, 175); Peter Appel, Sr. (6-0, 180)

REV — Paul Rojas (Sr. #15); Justin Wear (Sr. #27); Ryan Silva (Jr. #8); Andrew Miner (Sr.#2; Noah Moya (Sr.#9)

THE DIFFERENCE:
To make the semifinals every team is now peaking, having found their secret elixirs. REV’s home field advantage is not a nice place for visitors. If REV can perform the difficult task of knocking out Naughton, it could get lopsided. Likewise, if Silva can’t go five, but REV has played tougher playoff competition.

FINAL SCORE:
Redlands East Valley 8, Dos Pueblos 5