Murray leads from the start

Thanks to Murray, who went 5-2 with a 1.50 earned-run average en route to receiving All-Area first team and All-Pacific League second-team accolades, San Gabriel Valley never encountered that situation. Following Murray's performance, San Gabriel Valley won three one-run games in a row to return to the World Series following a one-year hiatus. San Gabriel Valley clinched a berth in the World Series with a 5-4 victory against Watsonville on July 26.

Torres, who has piloted San Gabriel Valley to three World Series titles since 2004, said Murray proved to be the logical choice to open the Pacific Southwest Regional.

"Kyle got us rolling with that game," Torres said. "We trusted giving him the ball and, had there been [an if-necessary championship game in the regional], he would have been our starter.

"His stuff has gradually improved. His velocity has improved, too. He's been pretty dominant and his confidence has continued to grow over the summer."

Quality pitching and defense normally go hand in hand. San Gabriel Valley has received that in its first four postseason contests.

San Gabriel Valley outfielder/relief pitcher Troy Mulcahey, the reigning All-Area Baseball Player of the Year, said things became simpler when Murray took the mound against San Bruno.

"You stay sharper on defense when your pitcher is getting outs," said Mulcahey, one of eight local players on the team. "We knew when we got him some runs in that game that he would be able to finish it.

"He definitely started the whole thing by shutting down the other team. That helped us a lot. Kyle going out there and doing what he did was big."

Murray's work is far from being complete, as he's set to make his first appearance in the World Series.

"It's going to be a real good experience for me," said Murray, who struck out 73 and walked 17 in 56 innings last season with Crescenta Valley. "It didn't sink in at first when we clinched a spot in the World Series.

"When you see the guys who have played on this team before, you go out there wanting to keep the tradition going. I feel like I have something to prove the next time I go out there."