The Mustangs had reason to celebrate, though, since they had shut out the Lions 14-0 and clinched the championship in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division for the Mustangs. What's more, Lincoln had been instrumental just a year ago in preventing Pioneer from reaching that same pentacle.

Although it was the first league championship for the Pioneer baseball program in 10 years, it was simply an atmosphere of business as usual as the Mustangs shook hands with the Lions and began gathering up their equipment. There was a sense that while it's good to be champions, there are other goals to focus on and work for such as an undefeated league mark and a solid Central Coast Section showing.

The win lifted Pioneer to 15-0 in league (20-5 overall) with three division games remaining.

Pioneer has demonstrated over the season a potent offensive attack and the Mustangs didn't waste any time unleashing those bats, breaking loose for seven runs in the top of the first. Pioneer jumped on Lincoln starting pitcher sophomore Luis Machuca, pounding out five hits sandwiched around three walks and an error.

Pioneer's Zane Bailey ripped a pair of singles for a multiple-hit inning and picked up a RBI. Steve Matos and Eddie Hsieh each powered doubles that each short hopped the fence with Matos driving in one run and Hsieh knocking in a pair. Andrew Schulz plated in two more runs with a single. Michael Rudolph's patience at the plate paid off when he drew a bases-loaded walk to pick up a RBI.

Pioneer added three more runs in the second when Shaun Souza led off with a solid single and then stole second. He scored on a sharp single through the hole by Hsieh for his third RBI on the day. Rudolph came up again with runners in scoring position and slapped a two-run, two-out single to extend Pioneer's lead to 10-0.

Junior left hander Andy Wright was on the mound for the Mustangs and worked four innings to pick up win number five against three losses. He sat down five on strikes and gave up only one hit--a line drive double down the left field line by James McCann that missed the outstretched glove of a diving Souza by only a few inches. Wright also used a deft move to first to pick off a Lincoln runner to close his stint on the hill. Johnny Carreras came in to throw the final inning of the game and made short work of matters, fanning all three Lions he faced--two looking and one swinging.

After Danny Ventura blasted a bases-loaded double over the third base bag to drive in two more runs in the top of the third, Pioneer coach Jake Hernandez emptied his bench. Steven Muirhead and Wyatt Ptak drew walks to open the fourth and each scored. Muirhead came home on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Gall and Ptak galloped across the plate on a single by Mike Kauffman. Muirhead also lofted a double into the left field corner in the fifth.

Pioneer ace left hander Robbie Nelson got the call in a crucial game against Silver Creek early last week. Nelson met the challenge and went the distance, recording 10 strikeouts while allowing five hits to nail down an 8-2 win and run his record to 7-0.

In spite of Nelson's effort, Silver Creek gave Pioneer its toughest game in league play so far. The Pioneer bats were silent for the first three innings as no Mustangs reached base. Meanwhile, Silver Creek touched Nelson for two runs and after three innings, Pioneer was looking at a 2-0 deficit and there was a sense of urgency growing on the Pioneer bench.

Then, A. Schulz and Bailey opened the fourth with back-to-back singles. Two outs later, Hsieh worked the count to 3-2 before drawing a walk to load the bases. M. Kaufmann came through with a clutch two-out double that he drove the opposite way to right field to bring home both runners, tying it 2-2 as Hsieh went to third. A few moments later Hsieh scampered home on a passed ball to put Pioneer up 3-2, a lead it would not relinquish.

Nelson shut the door on the Raiders, stranding runners at second in both the fifth and sixth and closing each inning with a strikeout.

Pioneer ended the mystery in the bottom of the sixth and put the game on ice with five runs. Bailey got things started by leading off with a frozen rope double that sailed over the right fielder's head to the base of the fence. Matos followed with a high fly that dropped between the fielders in left center for another double as Bailey scored.

M. Kaufmann poked a soft drive over first for a two-run single, giving him a team high four RBIs on the day. Ventura followed with a single to score Kaufmann. Ventura eventually came home on a wild pitch to close out the scoring and Pioneer kept its unbeaten streak alive.

The Mustangs had an easier time of it in their second game of the week, pounding out a 17-hit barrage to outscore Independence 10-4. Brent Osborn was on the hill for Pioneer and worked his magic to grab the win and up his record to 2-0. The hit parade was led by Matos who knocked out three singles and Ventura who blasted a home run.

This week, the Mustangs were to host Piedmont Hills and will travel to Evergreen Valley on May 6. Pioneer completes the regular season hosting Prospect on May 12. Game times are 3:30 p.m.