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St. John Bosco baseball wins again with strong pitching against JSerra

March 19, 2026

St. John Bosco starting pitcher Troy Sibolboro delivers a first inning strike against JSerra in Trinity League action on Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026, at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)

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BELLFLOWER — St. John Bosco’s baseball team, the defending Trinity League champions and the top-ranked team in the nation, got strong pitching and timely hitting Wednesday in a 5-1 victory over JSerra to remain undefeated.

Braves starting pitcher Troy Sibolboro tossed four scoreless innings and right fielder Jhett Ohira slugged a two-run home run to lead the way and take the middle game of a three-game series to open league play.

Bosco (6-0, 2-0), which won Tuesday’s series opener 6-0 in San Juan Capistrano, will look for the series sweep Friday in San Juan Capistrano.

“When you get into Trinity League play, it’s really about accumulating as many wins as possible,” Braves coach Andy Rojo said. “So, the message to the guys, when a team gets down 1-0 in the series, the next game they’re going to counterpunch.”

Sibolboro was able to keep the Lions (5-6, 0-2) from mustering a counterpunch after being staked to a 3-0 lead through two innings.

The sophomore right-hander was able to thwart a third-inning, bases-loaded rally.

“The fastball was looking pretty good today, the changeup also,” Sibolboro said after scattering four hits, hitting a batter and striking out three of the first four batters he faced. “Best pitch today was honestly probably the changeup. Fastball was located in spots. Changeup, I just threw it and it landed perfectly.”

After allowing a two-out single in the third and the next JSerra batter reached on an error, Sibolboro got No. 5 hitter Joey Koenig to hit a weak dribbler back to the first-base side of the mound.

Koenig was tagged out halfway up the line for the unassisted putout, and cooler heads prevailed after Sibolboro took exception to an extended forearm from Koenig as the tag was applied.

MID 3: Bosco 3, JSerra 0

Sibolboro gets a grounder and unassisted putout against JSerra No. 5 hitter Joey Koenig to strand the bases loaded. Sibolboro did not appreciate the shoulder. pic.twitter.com/EoUKEWQxBQ

— Tracy McDannald (@Tracy_McDannald) March 19, 2026

Sibolboro said he “wasn’t happy” about the end of the play, but he credited teammate and first baseman Moises Razo for pulling him back after offering some words to Koenig.

“Just calmed myself, deep breath every pitch,” Sibolboro said of preserving the early lead. “Trusting my coach to make the right call and also trusting my catcher.”

At the plate, the Braves took advantage of a dropped fly ball in right field in the first inning.

Razo pulled an RBI double to right field to score teammate Jaden Jackson from second for the early 1-0 lead.

END 1: Bosco 1, JSerra 0

A one-out error helps the Braves, who capitalized with a RBI double by first baseman Moises Razo @SJBoscoBaseball @johnwdavis @BeachVarsity pic.twitter.com/PSHRuBdI41

— Tracy McDannald (@Tracy_McDannald) March 18, 2026

In the second, Ohira extended the advantage to 3-0 after connecting on a mistake from Lions starter Otto Graham for a homer to left. Graham struggled with his command early, hitting two batters including Braves center fielder Miles Clark before facing Ohira.

“I saw a hanging breaking ball,” Ohira said. “In that count, I was battling off those hanging breaking pitches, just letting it get deep. That one, I just got out in front.”

Graham settled in to retire 12 of 13 hitters before running into trouble again to start the fifth.

The left-hander was charged with five runs (four earned) on five hits and struck out three with one walk over five-plus innings.

Braves third baseman Jack Champlin, who was 2 for 3 with a stolen base and a run scored, chased Graham with a well-placed RBI infield single to the right side against a shift.

“Otto did a great job,” JSerra coach Brett Kay said. “If we catch the baseball in the outfield, twice I think — Otto did a great job like our starter yesterday, keeping them off balance.

“They’re really good and No. 1 in the nation for a reason. I was proud of how he competed.”

Kay added that his team was “just a hit away in some big situations,” including a fifth-inning flyout by pinch-hitter Colton Mossman to the warning track in left with a runner on.

Shortstop Ayden Coleman followed with an RBI double off Bosco relief pitcher Cole Knupfer to score Blake Bowen as Serra pulled within 3-1.

Knupfer worked two innings and Champlin moved to the mound to finish off the Lions with a perfect seventh, including a pair of strikeouts to end the game.

“I thought we had really good at-bats today,” Kay said. “If we get a hit, first and third in the second with two outs, bases loaded with two outs in the third.

“I think Bosco knows that everybody is gunning for them because they’re No. 1 in the nation, and they’re very good.”

St. John Bosco baseball wins again with strong pitching against JSerra Orange County Register

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