HS BASE: It's 11 p.m. and Crespi up 8-4 -- in the third inning

FULLERTON – Crespi of Encino got off to a late start Wednesday, as its National Classic baseball semifinal against St. Johns of Washington, D.C. did not begin until after 9 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton

But the Celts made up for lost time with eight runs through the first innings to forge an 8-4 lead at press time.

Crespi scored five runs in the bottom of the third, the big blow Travis Forbes’ two-run single, followed by Carlos Lopez’s RBI single.

The winner advances to the tournament championship at 7:15 Thursday against Orange Lutheran at Cal State Fullerton.

Crespi scored in the first inning when Forbes doubled, took third on Lopez’s long fly, then scored on Jeremy Rodriguez’s sharp single to left to make it 1-0.

St. Johns responded with four runs in the second, parlaying two walks, two hit batters, a sacrifice, a run-scoring groundout by LJ Hoes and a two-run single by Jeff Flax.

Crespi scored twice in the second. Sean Gilmartin walked and eventually scored on Zack Wiley’s single, and Austin Walker walked, advanced to third on Wiley’s single, then scored on a passed ball to pull to within 4-3.

St. Johns threatened in the top of the first, putting runners on second and third. But Grace induced Josh Leemhuis to pop out to first to end the threat.

In the other semifinal at Cal State Fullerton:

Orange Lutheran 16, Seminole Ridge, Fla. 11 – Gerrit Cole hit a grand slam, Josh Doyle hit a two-run home run, and Aaron Gates added two hits and two RBIs, as Orange Lutheran overcame seven errors to qualify for the championship game Thursday at 7:15 p.m.. at Cal State Fullerton.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com