Capistrano Valley Beats Trabuco Hills for Title

For the second consecutive year, Capistrano Valley emerged from the depths of the South Coast League in midseason to win the league baseball title on the last day of the regular season.

And for the second year in a row, Trabuco Hills was the victim.

Capistrano Valley defeated the sixth-ranked Mustangs, 9-1, Thursday at Trabuco Hills behind 6 2/3 strong innings from pitcher Brennan Jackson. The Cougars will share the league title with San Clemente, which defeated Mission Viejo, 3-1.

The Tritons, who beat the Cougars twice in three games during the regular season, will take the league’s No. 1 spot into the Southern Section playoffs next week.

The Cougars (18-8, 10-5), the defending Division I champions, are on a seven-game winning streak, just like they were a year ago heading into the playoffs.

“It’s who gets hot last,” Capistrano Valley Coach Bob Zamora said. “And we’re hot.”

The Mustangs (18-8, 9-6) have lost three games in a row and are headed in the opposite direction after dropping their second game to the Cougars in three days.