JetHawks win South with sweep of 66ers

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Ronnie Mitchell hit a home run and drove in three as the JetHawks swept the Inland Empire 66ers in South Division Finals with a 4-2 win on Monday night at San Manuel Stadium.
 
The JetHawks will take on either Visalia or Bakersfield in the California League Championship Series beginning on Thursday. Monday night's victory marks the fourth South Division title for Lancaster in its 19-year franchise history.
 
Lancaster set the tone with runs in each of the first three innings. Brett Phillips led off the first with a walk and eventually scored on a Mitchell base hit to right field.
 
Phillips doubled in the second inning to move Jack Mayfield to third base. Inland Empire starter Austin Wood (0-1), who was not slated to pitch deep into the game, was pulled for reliever Michael Smith. Chan Moon picked up Mayfield with a ground ball to first and the JetHawks took a 2-0 lead.
 
The JetHawks added to the lead in the third inning against new 66ers pitcher Victor Alcantara. Tyler White led off with a double and was driven home on a Mitchell double.
 
Kyle Westwood pitched out of jams in each of the first three innings but was scored against in the fifth. Sherman Johnson led off with a single and Chad Hinshaw tripled to put the 66ers on the board. Dennis Raben followed with an RBI groundout and Exicardo Cayones doubled to chase Westwood.
 
Zach Morton (1-0) entered from the bullpen and finished the fifth without allowing another run before pitching a scoreless sixth inning. He would pick up the win.
 
Daniel Minor tossed two scoreless innings to keep the JetHawks ahead heading into the ninth inning.
 
Mitchell added some insurance in the eighth inning with a solo home run against Alcantara. Mitchell ended the series with two home runs and four RBIs.
 
Jamaine Cotton retired the first two batters in the ninth inning but walked Raben. During the at-bat against Cayones, Cotton tweaked his knee and left the game. Tyler Brunnemann came in and after Cayones walked, he struck out Angel Rosa to end the game.
 
The JetHawks will take on either Visalia or Bakersfield in the Championship Series. The North Division Finals is headed to Game 4 with Visalia leading the best-of-five series 2-1. Brian Holmes will start Game 1 for Lancaster on Thursday.
 
Don't miss a moment of exciting JetHawks action at The Hangar in 2014. Playoff tickets and other great ticket packages are on sale now. To order, call (661) 726-5400 or visit jethawks.com.