VALLEY VILLAGE — New Roads’ baseball team is in the zone at the right time.
The Jaguars routed Valley Torah, 17-1, in the second round of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division 7 playoffs on Tuesday, setting up a game with crosstown inter-divisional rival Pacifica Christian on Friday.
“I don’t like playing close games,” New Roads sophomore Anthony Carrillo said. “We should be beating any team in this tournament.”
The confident outfielder, who is also one of the team’s ace pitchers, backed up his bravado by going two-for-three with a single, double and three runs batted in.
“From the beginning, we came out ready to hit,” Carrillo said. “We were ready to play.”
Quinn Barbini started on the mound for New Roads and went three innings, giving up two hits, a run and three strike outs.
When the game appeared to be out of reach, New Roads Head Coach Sean Brookes pulled most of the starters to give some of his bench players some crucial playoff experience.
“It was nice to get guys in who don’t see a lot of innings,” Brookes said.