In a commanding performance that showcased both offensive firepower and defensive precision, the St. Ignatius Varsity Wildcats routed the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs 9-1 on Tuesday afternoon in the opening round of the WCAL tournament.

Junior standout Archer Horn put on a hitting clinic, going 3-for-4 with a towering solo home run to center field that silenced the visiting crowd in the second inning. The Wildcats' shortstop was flawless in the field as well, handling five chances without an error.

The Wildcats wasted no time establishing dominance, exploding for five runs in a first-inning offensive onslaught. Beau Schaffer delivered the key blow with a two-run single, while AJ Wineinger and Ryan Rosenthal each added run-scoring hits of their own.

The Wildcats' attack was relentless, with Emmett Johnson turning in a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, while Schaffer drove in a team-high three runs from the heart of the order.

On the mound, Chase Gordon was equally impressive, tossing three hitless innings to earn the win. The junior lefty struck out one and didn't issue a walk before giving way to Charlie Stecher and Luke Miller, who slammed the door in relief.

The victory improves St. Ignatius to 17-8-2 overall and sends them to the semifinals in WCAL tournament play.

Defensively, the Wildcats were impeccable, turning two double plays and committing zero errors in a complete team performance that had their home crowd on their feet throughout the afternoon.

The Wildcats return to action tomorrow (Wednesday 5/14) when they travel to Valley Christian to play in the semifinals of the WCAL tournament.