Baseball: Mater Dei wins National Classic

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Santa Ana Mater Dei won the championship game of the National Classic Thursday, making a two-run home run by Brian Frattali in the first inning hold up in a 2-1 victory over El Toro at Cal State Fullerton.

There was sensational pitching by the supposed backup pitchers in this fourth game in four days. Mater Dei’s Ruben Orosco struck out seven and allowed three hits in six innings for Mater Dei (16-2). Matt Blanchard pitched a scoreless seventh, getting a strikeout to end the game with the tying run on first.

El Toro’s T.J. Kendzora struck out eight and allowed three hits in 6 2/3 innings. El Toro dropped to 15-3.

-- Eric Sondheimer