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Prep Baseball: Finley throws one-hitter in Broncos’ rout

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Gone are the big boppers, the home run kings and first-round draft picks.

In their place are a bunch of freshmen and sophomores who will peck your eyes out, and a dominant senior pitcher in right-hander Drew Finley.

Friday, before about a dozen pro scouts, Finley threw a one-hitter and fanned nine as Rancho Bernardo beat host Rancho Buena Vista 10-0 in the North County Tournament.

Finley used a fastball that touched 93 mph and a sharp-breaking curve to baffle the Longhorns.

“This is the way I always pitch,” Finley said. “I throw strikes and try to feed the defense.

“We have a young team, a lot of rookies. But they’re ready to compete, and it’s exciting to be around them.”

The Broncos improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the tournament while Finley is now 3-0 with a 1.09 ERA.

He has allowed just 12 hits in 20 innings. And is 8-0 in two seasons at RB.

His one walk Friday was his second of the season against 29 strikeouts.

Finley, who has signed to play at USC, retired the last 17 batters in a row, including five strikeouts in a row at one point. He got a great defensive play by center fielder Tora Otsuka in the seventh.

“This team doesn’t really care about limitations,” Finley said, “but it sure does live up to expectations.”

The Broncos banged out 15 hits with three doubles — two by Adam Storch — and an RBI triple by DH Conner Shadroo.

The only hit for Rancho Buena Vista (4-4, 1-2 in the tournament) was a two-out, first-inning double by Michael Benson. Finley struck out the next batter on a high fastball.

Only two other runners reached after that — one on an error, one on a walk. Both were thrown out trying to steal by catcher Nick Coast.

So Finley faced one over the minimum 21 hitters.

The Broncos broke open a close game with a five-run fifth, banging out six hits. Two more runs in the sixth and one in the seventh, and the game was a rout.

RB started five sophomores, three juniors and two seniors.

“We’re young, really young,” said RB coach Sam Blalock. “It has taken some work, but the young hitters have really picked it up.

“We’re a little mercurial — up and down — because we’re so young. The top three guys in our lineup (Otsuka, Calvin Mitchell and Alika Williams) are sophomores. We’re young and talented, though. And that’s a good thing.

“We don’t have a big bopper in our lineup, so we ask the kids to do the little things that win games — bunt, hit behind the runner, steal a base.

“Plus, we have solid pitching and play good defense.

“We’re exciting, and we’re fun to watch.

“And Finley has become a great leader for these young guys.”

The Broncos open play Monday against Temecula Chaparral in the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament.

Finley will throw again Thursday. The Broncos hope it’s in the 9 a.m. semifinal at Cal State San Marcos.

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