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Baseball Millikan

PREVIEW: Millikan vs. Hart, CIF Baseball Semifinal

For the first time in 20 years, Millikan Baseball is one win away from the CIF-SS championship game. The Rams are fresh off a 9-0 win at Saugus in the Division 3 quarterfinals, and are hosting top-seeded Hart in Tuesday’s semifinal.

It will be Millikan’s first home game of the playoffs, and the Rams will be hosting the contest at Bohl Diamond at Blair Field with a 2 p.m. first pitch. The start time was moved up from 3:15 due to Millikan’s scheduled graduation on Tuesday evening.

Millikan (22-4) will likely turn to junior ace Myles Patton as their starting pitcher after winning last Friday’s quarterfinal behind seniors Cameron Sims and Daniel Murillo on the mound. Patton has been lights-out this postseason, allowing just one run in two complete games, striking out 19 batters with no walks in 14 innings pitched. The southpaw will be fully rested, returning to the same mound where he struck out 14 Wilson Bruins during Millikan’s 3-2 win on May 20.

Hart (21-2) is in the midst of a terrific season as champions of the Foothill League. After receiving a first-round bye in the playoffs, Hart defeated Cerritos 5-2 in round two and scored a 3-2 eight-inning walk-off against Calabasas in their quarterfinal game.

Attendance will be capped at 1,500 fans, with masks required for all spectators. There will not be a required health screening at the entrance, nor will social distancing requirements be enforced in the stands.

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Tyler Hendrickson
Tyler Hendrickson was born and raised in Long Beach, and started covering sports in his hometown in 2010. After five years as a sportswriter, Tyler joined the athletic department at Long Beach State University in 2015. He spent more than four years in the athletic communications department, working primarily with the Dirtbags baseball program. Tyler also co-authored of The History of Long Beach Poly: Scholars & Champions.
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