Photograph by George Sakkestad
What a Blast: Prospect players meet teammate Kyle Bonvechio at home plate after his three-run homer in last week's clash with Del Mar. The Panthers beat the Dons 6-2 before losing 3-0 to Mt. Pleasant later in the week. Prospect has already wrapped up the championship in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL.
Dons in the heat of race for 2nd
Bonvechio homer lifts Prospect to victory
By Dick Sparrer
Things could get pretty interesting in the final week of the baseball season in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
Oh, not for league-leading Prospect. The Panthers have already wrapped up the division championship, and even a split last week could do nothing to impact Prospect's standing in the league race.
But the Prospect split did plenty to affect the teams in the running for second place and a berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
Prospect knocked off Del Mar 6-2 before falling 3-0 to Mt. Pleasant. The two clubs are currently vying for the number two spot in the league standings.
The Cardinals hold a slim edge in the fight for second with a 10-6 record following the win over the Panthers. But Mt. Pleasant faces a tough slate this week, hosting Pioneer on May 8 and Del Mar on May 10.
The Dons are just a game back at 9-7, and the Mustangs sit a game and a half back at 9-8.
Prospect tops the pack with a 14-2 record and had the title clinched prior to action last week. But the Panthers dealt Del Mar a severe blow nonetheless with the 6-2 win to open the week, and the big blow of the game was a three-run homer in the fifth by Kyle Bonvechio.
The homer snapped a 1-1 tie, and that was all hurlers Steve Vidal and David Lenske needed. Vidal went on to nail down the win, pushing his season record to 8-2, and Lenske came on in relief to pick up the save.
The Panthers, 17-6 for the year, lost to Mt. Pleasant two days later. Nick Graydon doubled in the game for Prospect.
Del Mar rebounded from the loss to the Panthers to drub Overfelt 11-1 to remain alive in the race for second place.
Greg Myers ripped a pair of hits and Ben Katz-Moses drove in an impressive four runs to lead the Dons to the important win over the Royals.
Shaun Amelia tossed a six-hitter to pick up the mound win.
Del Mar can clinch second place in the circuit with two wins this week. The Dons travel to Independence on May 8, 3:30 p.m., before meeting up with Mt. Pleasant on Friday.
Warriors fall
Westmont lost three Mt. Hamilton Division decisions last week, falling 3-2 to Valley Christian, 11-0 to Oak Grove and 12-5 to Leigh.
The Warriors, 2-14 in the division and 7-17 for the year, gave Valley all it could handle in the second game of the week. Westmont led 2-1 heading into the last of the sixth, but Valley picked up a run in the sixth to tie it and another run in the seventh to win it.
Reed Dickert was the hard-luck loser for the Warriors, despite flipping an eight-hitter. Mike Haynes doubled in the game for Westmont.
Ben Peterson doubled twice to drive in three runs, and Mike Gorski ripped a pair of doubles in Westmont's loss to the Longhorns.
The Warriors wrap up the season this week with two home games. Westmont was to host Santa Teresa on Tuesday and will entertain Leland on May 9.
Campbell, California
