Back on top: After three straight losing seasons, Memorial is champ again

San Joaquin Memorial High baseball's miraculous turnaround was completed Friday.

From an 8-20-1 team a year ago to a 23-9 Central Section champion.

The Division II top-seeded Panthers trounced No. 2 El Diamante 8-2 at Rawhide Ballpark in Visalia to capture Memorial's first section title since 2006 and the program's seventh championship overall.

The title was achieved after Memorial endured three straight losing seasons, with a combined overall record of 35-55-1.

Memorial starting pitcher Justin Fuson had seven strikeouts and didn't allow a run through the first four innings. Teammate Jalen McMillan drove in two runs and scored twice.

In addition, Memorial's Matt Alvarez had a two-run single and Eddie Saldivar provided an RBI single.

Memorial, in its second year under coach J.D. Salles, outscored its three opponents a combined 22-3 during the playoffs.

The Panthers won 16 of their last 18 games and followed up Memorial section championships in football and boys and girls basketball.

El Diamante (19-11-2) had a 10-game winning streak snapped.

Andrew Valdez launched a two-run homer in the seventh for the Miners.

This story was originally published May 25, 2018 at 10:51 PM with the headline "Back on top: After three straight losing seasons, Memorial is champ again."