Young Gun: Harvard-Westlake Freshman Flaherty Makes Pitch in Baseball Quarterfinal Today

Harvard-Westlake High has yet to allow a run in two playoff games, but today the Wolverines look to succeed without ace Lucas Giolito as the starting pitcher.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander who throws 94 mph shut out Valencia of Placentia in the opener, then pitched a no-hitter Tuesday in a 1-0 win over Arroyo Grande in the second round.

The first two were at home, but today’s Southern Section Division II quarterfinal is at Santa Barbara (22-6), and freshman right-hander Jack Flaherty is the scheduled starting pitcher.

Flaherty has not pitched in 15 days since a six-inning scoreless stint in an 8-0 win over Crespi to clinch the Mission League championship.  

This is Harvard-Westlake’s first playoff game away from home, and the pressure can be nerve-racking, especially for such a young pitcher, but Harvard-Westlake coach Matt LaCour has confidence in Flaherty.

“I don’t think Jack will be effected by this kind of atmosphere,” LaCour said. “He’s pitched in big games all through league play in tough environments, and he’s dealt with it just fine. I think he will be OK.”

Flaherty is 6-1 with a 1.92 ERA, and he’s also batting .309 with 19 RBIs during the regular season.

Harvard-Westlake (23-7), which opened its doors in 1900 and is among California’s oldest schools, is seeking its first section baseball championship. Today’s quarterfinal won’t be easy because the Wolverines are slated to face Santa Barbara ace Danny Zandona (9-1, 1.31 ERA), who has four shutouts – including three in a row at one point -- and 90 strikeouts in 74 innings.

“Santa Barbara is a good team, so we have to play well on the road,” LaCour said. “They have a ton of seniors, and Zandona is a premium pitcher.”

Some of Harvard-Westlake’s other top players are catcher Arden Pabst, second baseman Jason Garfinkel, left fielder Sam Horn, center fielder Wes Peacock and first baseman Joe Corrigan.

Santa Barbara’s Collin Dewell is batting .398 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. He has committed to Arizona.

BASEBALL SEASON OVER FOR CAMPBELL HALL

Campbell Hall’s baseball season came to an end Tuesday in a 5-4 upset loss to Maranatha at Jackie Robinson Field in Pasadena, as the host Minutemen rallied for the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning .

Campbell Hall finished 19-7. Adam Ehrlich batted .566 with five home runs and 49 RBIs, and Brett Lake hit .582 with three home runs and 37 RBIs.

Also, North Hollywood defeated Maywood 5-4 in the City Section Division III quarterfinals. The Huskies (12-17) play Lincoln at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the semifinals at Birmingham High.