Orange Lutheran tops rival St. John Bosco in thriller

Sophomore Brady Murrietta's late homer lifts Lancers to victory

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:49am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic action and energy of a high school baseball game, with sharp planes of color representing the players, field, and crowd.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic late-inning heroics that lifted Orange Lutheran to victory over rival St. John Bosco.Orange Today

In a closely contested high school baseball matchup, Orange Lutheran's sophomore star Brady Murrietta hit a decisive two-run home run in the late innings to lead his team to a 5-4 victory over crosstown rival St. John Bosco.

Why it matters

This win over a top-ranked opponent keeps Orange Lutheran's playoff hopes alive in a competitive league race, while the loss is a setback for St. John Bosco as they look to defend their conference title.

The details

With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Murrietta stepped up to the plate and launched a towering shot over the left field fence to give Orange Lutheran a 5-3 lead they would not relinquish. St. John Bosco managed to score one more run in the top of the seventh, but the Lancers held on for the narrow victory.

  • The game was played on April 2, 2026.
  • Murrietta's go-ahead home run came in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The players

Brady Murrietta

A sophomore outfielder and rising star for the Orange Lutheran baseball team.

Orange Lutheran

A high school baseball program located in Orange, California that competes in a competitive league.

St. John Bosco

A rival high school baseball program located in the same region as Orange Lutheran, known as a perennial powerhouse in the sport.

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What they’re saying

“Brady really came up big for us in a clutch moment. That home run was a huge boost and showed the kind of player he's becoming.”

— Mike Pappadakis, Head Coach, Orange Lutheran

The takeaway

This back-and-forth battle between two talented high school baseball teams showcased the exciting potential of young stars like Brady Murrietta, who is emerging as a difference-maker for Orange Lutheran as they aim to make a deep playoff run.