CORONA — The Corona baseball team returned home Sunday afternoon after winning the title at the National High School Invitational in North Carolina. The Panthers celebrated the victory but quickly turned their focus to the next order of business: a three-game Big VIII League series against Centennial. Corona’s Sam Burgess #42 pitches during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Centennial’s players jump up and cheer after Michael Malki #11 scored a home run against Corona during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Anthony Murphy #14 slides safe into 3rd as Centennial’s Isaiah Padilla #8 waits for the ball during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Centennial’s Matthew Bernath #3 catches the ball at 2nd to get Corona’s Adrian Ruiz #3 out during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Centennial’s Isaiah Padilla #8 tags Corona’s Josh Springer #13 out at 3rd during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Centennial’s Matthew Bernath #3 throws to first after tagging Corona’s Anthony Murphy #14 out at 2nd during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Billy Carlson #3 slides safe into 3rd as Centennial’s Isaiah Padilla #8 waits for the ball during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Josh Springer #13 walks to the plate to bat during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Anthony Murphy #14 tries to score a run as Centennial’s Espn Simpson #7 tries to tag him out during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Centennial’s head coach Ryan Simpson has a conference with pitcher Espn Simpson #7 during their during their game against Corona at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Brady Ebel #25 runs towards home during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Anthony Murphy #14 is checked at first by Centennial’s Edgar Gonzalez #1 during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Corona’s Sam Burgess #42 slides in safe at home as Centennial’s Danny Retzlaff #32 tries to get him out during their game at Centennial Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (Photo by Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer) Show Caption of Expand Corona took the opening game of the series Monday, and Sam Burgess turned in six strong innings on the mound Wednesday afternoon in leading the Panthers to a 7-3 victory on the road. Corona can clinch the league championship outright Friday afternoon, when it hosts the final game of the series. “The goal was to get (the league title) wrapped up by the end of the week,” Corona coach Andy Wise said. “And we’re one step away from doing that.” Corona (21-2 overall, 11-0 in league) played in high-profile tournaments the previous two weeks, so Wise had to make adjustments to the rotation for the Big VIII League series with Centennial (18-5, 8-3). Freshman Mason Sims started and earned the win in Monday’s game, and Jake Skelskey pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to pick up the save in the 7-2 victory. Burgess typically starts Friday games during league play but was handed the ball Wednesday. UCLA-bound southpaw Ethan Schiefelbein (5-0, 0.24 ERA) will start Friday, and junior Seth Hernandez (6-0, 0.56 ERA) also will be available, if needed. “We are in a pretty good position now with our aces still ready to go Friday,” Wise said. “It all started with Mason giving us the chance to win on Monday, and he did the job we needed him to do. We had a veteran pitcher (Burgess) throwing today, and he figured out some things with today’s performance.” Burgess, a senior left-hander who has signed with TCU, allowed three runs on five hits over six innings of work. He walked two and fanned nine batters. Michael Malki was the only Centennial player who had much success against Burgess, as he went homered twice, singled and knocked in all three runs. “I felt like I had all my stuff working today,” said Burgess, who improved his record to 4-1 this season. “And when that happens, I’m usually pretty on.” Corona grabbed the lead in the top of the second inning, taking advantage of three straight walks by Centennial starter Espn Simpson. Simpson nearly escaped the jam, but Trey Ebel smacked a 2-2 pitch to deep center field with two outs to bring home the first two runs of the game. Centennial answered back immediately, as Malki lifted a towering fly to center field, and the wind carried the ball over the wall for a two-run home run, Simpson struggled with command Wednesday, as he walked four batters and hit three more in five innings of work. He avoided major damage, however, thanks in part to his defense turning double plays in the first, third and fourth innings. Corona loaded the bases with no outs in the third and regained the lead when Brady Ebel scored on one of the double plays turned by the Huskies. Malki once again leveled the score in the bottom of the fourth inning, when he turned on a fastball and hammered a no-doubter over the left field wall. Malki, who is head to California Baptist University, is expected to start Friday afternoon’s game on the mound. He is 5-0 with a 1.19 ERA this season. Anthony Murphy led off Corona’s half of the fifth inning with a single and moved to third on an errant pickoff throw by Simpson. He scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch later in the inning. The Panthers added three insurance runs against reliver Danny Retzlaff in the sixth inning, and did so without a hit. Daniel Rivera walked with the bases loaded, Burgess scored on a passed ball and Trey Ebel had a sacrifice fly for his third RBI of the game. Billy Carlson pitched the seventh inning for Corona, and needed only seven pitches to retire the side in order. He struck out the final two batters. Corona is looking to become the first team to go undefeated in Big VIII League play since Norco posted a 15-0 record during the 2014 season. “Coming back from North Carolina, we knew we had to bounce back and fight hard this week,” senior catcher Josh Springer said. “We have had to did deep with out pitching staff, but we know what we are capable of doing. 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