Southern Section Baseball Playoffs : Montclair Prep’s Bid for Seventh-Inning Heroics Falls Short at Center-Field Wall

As Frank Charles’ bid for a game-tying home run fell just short at the center-field wall, Montclair Prep’s baseball season came to a close Friday in the Southern Section 1-A quarterfinals.

Instead of hitting a two-run homer, Charles was the final out as the visiting Mounties fell to Gladstone, 4-2. Montclair Prep finished the season 20-4.

Gladstone (18-7-1) settled the game with a three-run fourth inning. Oscar Marlen opened the inning with a bunt single. A pair of errors led to one run, and Steve Rojas singled home George Velazquez for the second run of the inning. Ron Cornejo and David Avila followed with singles, loading the bases with no outs.

Montclair Coach Jeff Pressman brought in Reggie Smith Jr. to replace starting pitcher Scott Randall (8-2), but the Gladiators scored again on Joe Carbal’s run-scoring single.