Boras Classic: Eric Bitonti grand slam leads Aquinas past Cypress in opener

A foggy morning turned to sunshine on Tuesday in Santa Ana, and the more than two dozen baseball scouts on hand at Mater Dei High to see an opening game of the Boras Classic got to see what they came for, the chance to watch 6-foot-5 shortstop Eric Bitonti of Riverside Aquinas send a slider flying over the right-field fence for a grand slam against Cypress.

“It was 1-and-1 and he hung it,” said Bitonti, a top MLB prospect. “I knew it was gone.”

Aquinas (13-2) defeated Cypress 6-4, ending the Centurions’ 12-game winning streak. Bitonti’s grand slam came in the third inning and gave Aquinas a 6-0 lead. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect for his second home run of the season, with so many scouts gathered to continue their season-long evaluation process in anticipation of the amateur draft starting July 7.

“Obviously, you know they’re there,” Bitonti said. “It’s cool, but I have to play my game.”

UCLA commit Owen Egan struck out eight, walked one and gave up one run in six innings for Aquinas. Trevor Monteleone had a three-run double in the seventh for Cypress (16-5).

Aquinas coach Mike Carpentier took his team to Cary, N.C., for the National High School Invitational, but the Boras Classic might have more talent among the 16 teams.

“That’s why we’re here to play the best,” he said.

Cypress coach John Weber said, “This tournament is scary good. It’s the best tournament in the country, and not even close.”

It continues through Friday’s championship game at 6 p.m. at San Juan Capistrano JSerra.

“I am Groot” has become the rallying cry for right fielder Logan de Groot of Santa Margarita. He came through with his bat and arm in a 2-1 victory over Corona.

UCLA commit Ethan Schiefelbein of Corona had his 93 mph fastball in fine form, striking out 12 in six innings. The one player he couldn’t strike out was de Groot, another UCLA commit. He had a first inning RBI single and delivered a tie-breaking sacrifice fly in the sixth to send Santa Margarita (16-3) into the Boras Classic quarterfinals against Aquinas on at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Mater Dei.

Jared Saldana of Santa Margarita makes diving catch in 2-1 victory over Corona on Tuesday in the Boras Classic.

(Nick Koza)

Collin Clarke, who has been the best pitcher in the Trinity League this season, threw another complete game, striking out eight, walking two and giving up six hits. Luke Lavin had a key double to set up Blake Wilson scoring from third in the sixth on the sacrifice fly.

Also it was de Groot’s throw to the cut-off man that led to tagging out a Corona pinch-runner in the sixth at second base to deny a scoring opportunity. “We practice that every day,” de Groot said.

As for “I am Groot,” he said, “I get that a lot. It’s all fun.”

Orange Lutheran 6, Pasadena Maranatha 2: JJ Robles homered and Finnegan Stewart contributed three hits in another Boras Classic opener. The Lancers will play Norco at 3 p.m. Wednesday at JSerra.

Norco 4, Villa Park 0: Ryan Jenkins struck out eight and gave up four hits in the shutout for Norco. Grant Gray and Jason Arriola each had three hits.