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Servite baseball beats Mater Dei with five runs in the fourth inning

April 16, 2026

Servite’s Michael Cabral (27) looks on after stealing second base during the first inning in a Trinity League baseball game against Mater Dei at Servite High School, Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by William Liang, Contributing Photographer)

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ANAHEIM – Servite’s baseball team really needed this one.

The Friars kept themselves in position to win their Trinity League series against Mater Dei with a 9-6 victory on Wednesday at Servite High.

Mater Dei won the first game of the series, 4-2, on Tuesday. The third and final game of the series is Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Mater Dei.

“Wednesday is always an important game in these three-game series,” said Servite coach Shawn Gilbert. “You’ve got to win the Wednesday game, then win one of the other ones on Tuesday or Friday.”

Servite (13-7 overall) is in second place in the six-team Trinity League with a 5-3 record. First-place St. John Bosco (7-1 in league) defeated Santa Margarita 8-1 on Wednesday. Mater Dei is 10-8 overall and 2-3 in league.

Servite is No. 17 in the CIF-SS computer rankings that will be used at the end of the regular season to place teams in playoff divisions. Mater Dei is No. 30 in the rankings. The Orange County Top 25 has Servite at No. 4 and Mater Dei at No. 6.

Servite catcher Eli Rubel had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs Wednesday. Friars third baseman John Sullivan drove in two runs, center fielder Michael Cabral had two hits and scored three runs and left fielder Kane Clark had two hits and scored twice.

Mater Dei second baseman Sebastian Navarro had two hits and an RBI. Sophomore Logan Miller drove in two runs.

The game was tied, 3-3, going into the bottom of the fourth inning. That’s when Servite batted around during a five-run outburst.

Clark led off the fourth with a bunt single. PJ Becerra was hit by a pitch. Jesse Lopez followed and he squared up as if he was going to bunt. As Mater Dei’s infielders moved into position for a bunt, Lopez slapped the ball to the left side of the infield, through a spot vacated by the shortstop, sending home Clark.

Becerra and Lopez then scored on a throwing error for the inning’s second and third runs and a 6-3 lead for the Friars. Rubel singled to left field to drive in Cabral and Jaden Liu singled to send home Sullivan to make it 8-3.

Mater Dei had the bases loaded with no outs in the top of the fifth inning but could not score – two force outs at home plate on ground balls and another ground out ended the Monarchs’ opportunity.

The Monarchs scored three runs in the top of the seventh, with two scoring on a hit by Miller.

Rubel said he’s looking forward to Friday’s series-deciding game at Mater Dei.

“League games are always exciting, especially when you’re playing against those guys,” said Rubel, referring to the Monarchs. “It’s always going to be a great series. I’m looking forward to seeing how it comes out on Friday.”

Servite baseball beats Mater Dei with five runs in the fourth inning Orange County Register

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Servite baseball beats Mater Dei with five runs in the fourth inning

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