Meimerstorf powers Gorman past Newbury Park

Bishop Gorman senior Kenny Meimerstorf is a notorious first-pitch hitter. Newbury Park found that out the hard way on Friday at the Bishop Gorman Desert Classic.

Meimerstorf, an Arizona signee, hit a two-run home run and two doubles on three pitches and led a 13-hit attack as the Gaels coasted to an 8-2 victory.

“He’s a real aggressitve hitter,” Gorman coach Nick Day said. “Sometimes that makes him a really good hitter, and sometimes that’s a weakness. When he’s swinging well, he’s probably the best hitter in town.”

Gorman (10-3-1) plays Mountain Vista (Colo.) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in one semifinal. The championship game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

Meimerstorf homered in the first inning on a first-pitch fastball for a 2-0 lead, then smoked a one-out double to left on an offspeed pitch in the third. Meimerstorf, who saw seven total pitches in his four at-bats, added a sixth-inning double to left.

He finished 3-for-4 and scored four runs.

“He repeatedly came up and got on base,” Day said. “He did what we expect him to do.”

Gorman left-hander Jerrel Latham pitched a complete-game four-hitter with 11 strikeouts. After Gage Nishi’s run-scoring single in the second inning for the Panthers, Latham retired 10 of the next 11 hitters before Daniel Barnett ripped a solo homer leading off the sixth to make it 6-2.

“Jerrel’s the type of pitcher that gets better as the game goes on,” Day said. “If he has a good first inning, you know it’s going to be a good day. He throws strikes, and he’s tough to hit. He hides the ball well and he goes right after guys.”

Cole Krzmarzik was 3-for-4 with a double for the Gaels, and Matt Hudgins had a two-run single in the fifth. Teammate Willie Jumper went 2-for-3 with a run.

Tucson (Ariz.) 2, Rancho 0 — At Tucson, Ariz., Alex Robles tossed a one-hitter for the Badgers, who scored both of their runs in the second inning to win the championship of the Cherry Field Classic.

Robles walked one and struck out 11 en route to the win.

Josh Mill had the only hit for the Rams.