KYLE GLASER
Posted along the back wall of Perris Citrus Hill’s dugout are nine pieces of paper with motivational statements, including one centrally displayed that says “Make each day your masterpiece.” A masterpiece it wasn’t, but the Hawks did enough right to win the first league title in program history. Marcos Hernandez threw three innings of shutout relief as host Citrus Hill staged multiple rallies to beat Hemet, 7-6, on Monday afternoon to clinch a share of the Mountain Pass League title and claim the league’s No. 1 playoff seed. “Showed a lot of grit,” Hawks coach Drew Valenzuela said shortly after receiving a Gatorade bath. “You mix a little bit of tenacity with talent and good things can happen. They fought, they persevered, went through adversity, and it was well worth it.” Citrus Hill (16-7, 10-3) trailed 2-0 in the first and 6-5 in the fourth but battled back each time. With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth, Martin Valencia drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored the goahead run on a wild throw wide of first base after Nick Arguello laid down a bunt. That was enough for Hernandez, who stranded the tying run on second base with strikeouts of Sean Rodriguez and Yeager Taylor to finish it and send the Hawks streaming onto the field in celebration. “It feels amazing to win a championship with your brothers,” Hernandez said. “We just kept competing.” Hemet (18-7, 8-5) tagged Hawks starter Jorge Valerio for six runs and eight hits in four innings, but Hernandez stepped in. The junior gave up two hits and struck out six to give his team a chance, and they gladly took advantage. “I knew we could get it done,” Valenzuela said. “I didn’t have a timetable in mind but with the kids and the staff we had I knew it was only a matter of time.”