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Sports

Palm Desert Wins CIF Division 4 Baseball Title

Palm Desert scores four in the first inning, and rides the pitching of Brooks Kriske to the CIF - Southern Section Championship.

It's a perfect night for baseball at UC Riverside, as the Palm Desert Aztecs look for their second CIF baseball championship in three years -- tonight against Rio Hondo League winners Temple City (24-3-1).

Palm Desert has Brooks Kriske (9-3, 0.99 ERA) pitching against Temple City's Calvin Copping (8-0, 0.91 ERA).

Latest in-game action is at the top of this blog.

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End 7th inning: CHAMPIONS!!  Palm Desert defeats Temple City 4-0 for the Division 4 Championship. Senior Brooks Kriske throws a complete game, 4-hit shutout while striking out 10. 

Mid 7th inning: Aztecs are bringing in the rest of the seniors for one final at-bat.  Conor Soblom and Jono Tellier replace the 8 and 9 hitters. No runs, no hits.  Aztec fans are on their feet knowing they're three outs away from seeing their team win a CIF title.  PD 4 - TC 0

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End 6th inning: John Schuknecht rips the heart of out of a Temple City rally.  After getting back to back base hits to open the frame, J-Schu makes a leaping grab of a line drive and throws to get the runner off second.   Aztec fans feel the title in the air now.  PD 4 - TC 0

Mid 6th inning:  Palm Desert bats are quiet agasint Copping.  If Temple City wants the CIF title, they have to get the bats going this coming at bat.  PD 4 - TC 0

End 5th inning:  Kriske gives up only the second hit for the Rams, and also allows a walk... oh, he struck out the other three batters he faced.   Looking stronger as the game wears on.  PD 4 - TC 0

Mid 5th inning: Palm Desert goes down one-two-three.  PD 4 - TC 0

End 4th inning: USC-bound senior Brooks Kriske is starting to overpower the Temple City hitters.  Three up, three down.  PD 4 - TC 0

Mid 4th inning: Loudest cheers from Temple City fans so far come on the announcment that the LA Kings win 2-1 in Overtime in game 2 of the Stnaley Cup finals.

Top 4th inning: Interesting note comes up: About 10 years ago, the Serven brothers lived in Temple City and played Little League with many of the current Rams players.  Nothing offensively for PD this time around. PD 4 - TC 0

End 3rd inning: Brooks Kriske has given up more walks (3) than he has strikeouts (2).  Temple City gets a runner on, only to hit into a flyball double play.  PD 4 - TC 0

Mid 3rd inning: Calvin Copping seems to have settled down on the hill for Temple City.  After allowing an infield single to Brian Serven (who gets caught stealing), Copping gets thru the next two batters with ease.  PD 4 - TC 0 

End 2nd inning: Temple City already feels the pressure.  Down 4 runs, Benji Sanderson gets cut down trying to steal second base following a walk.   PD 4 - TC 0

Mid 2nd inning: Aztecs get a lead off hit from Brody Kato, who eventually get stranded at third base as Copping gets out of the inning with a fly out and a strikeout to close out Palm Desert.  PD 4 - TC 0

End 1st inning: Temple City gets a lead off single, but can do nothing with it.   PD 4 - TC 0

Mid 1st inning: After Palm Desert brings eight to the plate, the inning ends.. but PD does major damage.   How will Temple City respond?  PD 4 - TC 0

Top 1st inning: Connor Ventura slaps a base hit to left, bring in Arcand just ahead of the throw.  PD 4 - TC 0

Top 1st inning: Kelly Arcand bloops a two-out double down the right field line, driving in two more aztec runs.   Temple City coach Barry Bacon is already to the mound to talk with his normally flawless pitcher.   PD 3 - TC 0 

Top 1st inning: Aztecs Score!  After Jonathan Serven and John Schuknecht get basehits, Brooks Kriske's weak grounder forces a bad throw as Temple City tries to turn the double play. PD 1 - TC 0

7:30 p.m.:  PLAY BALL!  Aztecs leading off the first against Temple City's senior righthander Calbin Copping (8-0, 0.91 ERA, 59 SO in 54 IP).

7:25 p.m.:  A light breeze is picking up and blowing out to right field.  A good sized crowd of Palm Desert fans are scattered in the stands from home plate around the first base bleachers. Boys varsity basketball coach Don Brady has the entire team sitting in the front two rows, just right of home.   First pitch is moments away.

7:10 p.m.:  Starting Lineup - Palm Desert

#15 Jonathan Serven - 3B

#2 John Schuknecht - 2B

#23 Brooks Kriske - P

#5 Brian Serven - LF

#3 Jacob Clark - 3B

#7 Kelly Arcand - DH

#25 Connor Ventura - CF

#14 Chris Drake - 1B

#18 Brody Kato - C

#24 Zack Novis - RF

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