by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

The Claremont High School varsity baseball team ended their regular season on a high note Wednesday, snapping a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over visiting University High.

The victory capped the team’s regular season at 17-9, leaving the Wolfpack with an outside chance of making the CIF Southern Section playoffs in an at-large bid. Brackets release at 1 p.m. Saturday at cifss.org.

CHS Senior Reed Miller doubled in this at bat Wednesday against University High. Reed finished the regular season with a .250 batting average, 16 hits, 15 RBIs, and five doubles. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

It’s been a mixed season for the Pack. They’ve found success against non-league opposition but  struggled in the Palomares League, where they finished fourth at 4-6.

“League, we started out well, and, you know, we just ran into a two week stretch where we didn’t play well,” head coach Brian Dorman said.

Still, Dorman was upbeat, especially following last year’s exodus of 17 graduating seniors.

“Many people thought this was going to be what you would define as a rebuilding season,” Dorman said. “And to go 17 and nine is a huge success. Obviously in league we wanted to be an automatic qualifier. We wanted to finish in the top three. We set that as a goal to make playoffs. We’ve put ourselves in a position hopefully to earn an at-large bid. We’ll see how that goes. But overall, we’re a really young team from last year’s team, we only returned two starters. I’m really proud of the way the boys competed this year.”

Claremont went 13-3 outside of league play, losing only to Roosevelt, Segerstrom and Downey. In league play the Pack lost twice to Palomares League champs Ayala, who are also ranked 10th in the state and 57th in the nation.

“I had a tremendous group of players in terms of human beings,” Dorman said. “They played for each other. That’s the most important factor. I have nothing but respect for the work that the boys put in.”

Claremont pitcher Brady Houlton deals to a University High hitter during Wednesday’s 5-4 Pack victory. Brady finished the regular season 6-3 with a 1.79 ERA and 78 strikeouts. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Even with losing 17 players, the team still improved upon last year’s 14-13-1 record and equaled its fourth place finish in the Palomares League. The 2025 team qualified for postseason play, bowing out in the second round in a 10-3 loss to Thousand Oaks.

Wednesday’s win was followed by a postgame senior night celebration for its eight graduating players.

Claremont catcher Jacob Lucas hops on closer Gil Perez’s back Wednesday after CHS notched a 5-4 win over University High to cap the regular season. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

Claremont pitcher Gael Porter celebrates after the Pack’s 5-4 win over University High on Wednesday. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

“I started playing baseball when I was 6 years old and my first team was the [Claremont Little League] Mets,” said four-year varsity player Reed Miller after the game. “Ever since then, baseball has been a big part of my life. I’ve spent years playing through Little League and travel ball, eventually reaching this point with this team. One moment that really stands out to me was my first home run here during my freshman year. What made it even better was being able to celebrate it with some of the same guys here today that I’ve been friends with since elementary school.”

Palomares League results:

• March 18: W, 2-1 vs. Walnut
• March 20: W, 4-2 at Walnut
• March 31: L, 6-5 at Diamond Bar
• April 2: W, 8-2 vs. Diamond Bar
• April 15: L, 10-3 at Bonita
• April 17: W, 5-2 vs. Bonita
• April 22: L, 5-3 vs. Glendora
• April 24: L, 13-2 at Glendora
• April 29: L, 8-0 vs. Ayala
• May 1: L, 11-1 at Ayala