Monrovia, CA — March 20, 2026 vs. Monrovia The South Pasadena Varsity Tigers delivered a strong and competitive performance on Friday, highlighted by a dominant outing on the mound from Mason Wakumoto. Despite carrying a late lead, the Tigers came up just short in a 5–3 walk-off loss to Monrovia. South Pasadena set the tone early, getting on the board in the first inning when Anthony Ortiz put the ball in play with two outs, leading to a Monrovia error that allowed Cody Robinson to score. The Tigers added another run in the third when Ortiz delivered an RBI single to center, continuing to apply pressure offensively. The biggest highlight of the day came from Wakumoto, who was outstanding on the mound. The right-hander threw six shutout innings, allowing zero runs, while scattering seven hits, striking out four, and walking three. His performance put South Pasadena in a strong position heading into the final inning with a 3–0 lead. Defensively, the Tigers also showed flashes of excellence, turning both a triple play and a double play, showcasing their ability to make big plays in key moments. In the bottom of the seventh, Monrovia rallied, and despite the Tigers holding a three-run lead entering the inning, the closers were unable to hold the lead as Monrovia capitalized late, highlighted by a walk-off grand slam. Offensively, Ortiz led the Tigers with two RBIs, while Kawasaki, Esquivel, Robinson, and Ortiz each contributed a hit in a balanced team effort. While the final result was not in their favor, the Tigers’ strong starting pitching, timely hitting, and defensive highlights provide plenty to build on moving forward. South Pasadena will look to bounce back when they host Charter Oak on Saturday (tomorrow) at 10 AM.