South El Monte and Schurr advance to CIF-SS baseball title games
South El Monte is headed to the CIF Southern Section baseball finals for the second time since 2024, and they can thank senior Gabriel Canchola for helping it get there.
Canchola tossed a two-hit shutout with four strikeouts to lead South El Monte to a 3-0 victory over Norwalk in the Division 7 semifinals on Tuesday. Canchola was under control, walking none.
It wasn't just his pitching. Canchola was also 3 for 4 with two doubles and scored twice.
Bobby Rojas also helped with the offense, finishing 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Riley Leon added a pair of singles.
South El Monte will play North Torrance in the championship Friday or Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
Rojas' single in the first inning scored Canchola to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Isaac Piceno scored on a bases-loaded walk in the second inning to make it 2-0.
Rojas singled in Canchola in the fourth inning, and then Canchola did the rest on the mound to close it out.
South El Monte lost in a heartbreaker in its only other championship appearance in 2024. The Eagles scored three runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-2 lead over Oxford Academy. But Oxford Academy scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh on two walks, two hit batters and a wild throw for a 5-4 walk-off victory.
SCHURR 4, DUARTE 2 (8 INNINGS)
Schurr scored a run in the seventh inning and scored twice in the eighth to pull out a two-run victory over Duarte to advance to the CIF-SS Division 8 championship game.
Schurr (16-16) will be playing for its first CIF-SS baseball title.
It will take on Rancho Alamitos on Friday or Saturday at a site and time to be determined.
David Torres and Jacob Diaz had two hits apiece to lead the Spartans' offense.
TUESDAY'S SCORES
SEMIFINALS
DIVISION 2
Ganesha 2, Newport Harbor 1
DIVISION 3
Mira Costa 12, St. Francis 0
DIVISION 4
Glendora 3, Saugus 2
DIVISION 6
Covina 6, Lakewood 1
DIVISION 7
South El Monte 3, Norwalk 0
DIVISION 8
Schurr 4, Duarte 2, 8 innings
CHAMPIONSHIP MAATCHUPS
The dates, times and locations of the championship games will be set Wednesday.
The finals will be played at LoanMart Field in Rancho Cucamonga and Cal State Fullerton on Friday and Saturday.
DIVISION 2
Ganesha vs. Loyola
DIVISION 4
Glendora vs. Laguna Beach
DIVISION 6
Covina vs. Brentwood
DIVISION 7
South El Monte vs. North Torrance
DIVISION 8
Schurr vs. Rancho Alamitos
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:43 PM.