By Ernie Stone

Stefan Cordes hit a three-run home run for Saugus and ruined a strong pitching performance by Oxnard’s Mikel Beltran in the wild-card round of the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs on Tuesday.

Cordes’ home run was the difference for Saugus in a 4-2 win over Oxnard. Saugus advances to the first-round of the Division I playoffs and will travel to face Mater Dei, the second-place team from the Trinity League, on Friday.

Beltran pitched an excellent game, striking out nine and allowing no earned runs. However, Beltran was the victim of poor fielding. His infielders made four key errors, one that allowed Cordes to come to the plate with two runners on base.

“I just wanted to get up there and put something in play,” said Cordes, who capitalized on the error by belting a three-run homer over the centerfield wall.

Saugus solidified its effort by doing something its opponent could not — limit mistakes in the field. Saugus senior pitcher Kyle Hooper said of his teammates, “It is a great feeling knowing that the eight guys behind you have your back and can make the plays that you need them to.”

Hooper needed little help, pitching 3 1/3 near-perfect innings in relief, the lone blemish a hit batter in the seventh inning.

Saugus (16-11) entered the game on a hot streak, winning seven of its past 10 regular season games.

Oxnard (14-13) entered on the opposite end of the spectrum. Oxnard was forced to forfeit five games for violating school rules and wiped out an impressive league start that faded into a lower seeding. Some of the Oxnard players were also playing in a recreational softball league, a violation of team and school rules.

“We are undersized and slow, but we work hard and put our all into every game,” said Oxnard coach Alfred Tarazon.

The two teams not only held similar records, but seemed to be evenly matched throughout the game.

“We just played our game,” said Hooper. “Solid, fundamental, defensive baseball.”

The Centurions will face heavily favored Mater Dei on Friday. Saugus coach John Maggiora skirted comment on the upcoming challenge Friday.

“We just have to take things one game at a time. Mater Dei is tough, but we have been tested by our tough schedule,” Maggiora said.

Oxnard will look to improve next season behind returning junior pitcher Mikel Beltran. As for Friday’s game against Mater Dei, the Saugus players are optimistic. “They are beatable,” remarked a quietly confident Kyle Hooper.