Ryder D. Hess

“Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” — The Sandlot

Behind a masterful performance on the mound from senior pitcher Otto Graham, the @JSerraLionsBB team began the 2026 Boras Baseball Classic on Tuesday with an impressive 5-0 victory over the Corona Panthers in a first round Southern Section Bracket game at JSerra Catholic High School. The Lions struck for two runs in the bottom of the third inning. After back-to-back singles by freshman Joey Koenig and senior Blake Bowen, a double steal put the runners on second and third with one out. Koenig scored on a wild pitch that also advanced Bowen to third. One pitch later, Bowen successfully stole home for the second run of the inning. Bowen swiped three of the team’s five stolen bases. His bat helped increase the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Bowen followed a leadoff single to left field by Koenig by launching a no-doubt rocket well over the wall in center field for a two-run homerun, his team-leading fourth of the season. That proved to be more than enough run support for Graham, who was sensational against a Panthers team boasting an 11-1 record coming into the game and had scored eight or more runs eight times. Graham struck out two batters in each of the first four innings and then struck out the side in the fifth inning, as he masterfully changed speeds and located his pitches with stellar precision to keep the Panthers’ lineup completely off balance. Koening topped off a 3-for-4 night at the plate with an RBI double down the left field line that plated sophomore pitch runner Cameron Hill for the final run of the game. Graham closed out his dominant effort in the seventh inning, allowing only two hits in the game and finishing with 12 strikeouts. JSerra will host Aquinas High School on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. First pitch is scheduled for p.m.

LIONS POSTGAME: Senior Blake Bowen blasted an impressive two-run homerun and stole three bases, while fellow senior Otto Graham tossed a dominant two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts, as the @JSerraLionsBB team opened the 2026 Boras Baseball Classic on Tuesday with a strong 5-0 victory over the Corona Panthers in a first round game of the Southern Section Bracket at JSerra Catholic High School. Bowen spoke postgame about impacting the game in a variety of different ways to try and provide a spark, while Graham discussed the keys to his fantastic effort on the mound and keeping one of the top teams in the nation off the scoreboard to give his team a much-needed win on their home diamond.

Complete Game Shutout vs. Corona Panthers in @TheBorasClassic 7 innings 0R 2H 12K’s 1BB 76% S% 2026 uncommitted

One of the best performances in our history. Well done Otto. Kid will make any program better not to mention every single person around him!

Uncommitted ‘26 Otto Graham (JSerra HS, CA) turned in a brilliant outing against a Top 10 national squad. Toss the radar away (mid 80s & played up) as he pounded in on RHHs while disrupting timing w/ CB/CH. Poised. Fun watch. CG 0R 12K-2BB (76%K) 2H 𝐖𝐈𝐍. || @PrepBaseballCA

@aidankent991 @AidenRae2027 @Ayden28414959 @blake_bowen10 @BriseBoop @CadenGarsh @CadenJBSBL2028 @CadenMossman @ColinDirocco @Coltonmossman @emmett_kopp8 @JaxJaneski_02 @Joe_Hollis27 @Logan_Osmundson @MasonMazz1 @MaxSmaldino @OttoGraham2026 @owenmescall @ryderfred19 @RyderDHess @ShaneDarcy21044 @Zawistoski2026 @ZacVeronda

Go get it.@JSerraLionsBB @NitroRecruits

JSerra vs St. Mary’s 3ks 2 2/3 ip @NitroRecruits @JSerraLionsBB

#wheels Senior Night 2026’s

Around the Horn: JSerra Catholic High School 3B: Brise Boop (2026, Uncommitted) SS: Jax Janeski (2028) 2B: Ayden Coleman (2027, Uncommitted) 1B: Shane D'Arcy (2027, UCI Commit) C: Ryder Hess (2026, Uncommitted) #PGHS @JSerraLionsBB