By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

CARY, NC—With inclement weather moving into the area, Thursday at the 2017 National High School Invitational turned into a marathon day. Amid the extended day of games, four teams punched their ticket to the semifinals. Keeping with the tradition that California teams dominate the tournament, three of the 2017 semifinalists hail from Southern California, guaranteeing at least one will reach Saturday’s championship game.

South Hills HS, CA, advanced behind RHP Brandon Dieter, who stifled the powerful Archbishop McCarthy HS, FL, lineup. A Stanford recruit pitching in the high 80s, he went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six. SS Jacob Amaya contributed to the 5-1 win with a double and three RBIs. South Hills will face Orange Lutheran HS, CA. The schools are less than 25 miles apart.