The Campbell Reporter

Sports

Panthers knock off Cards twice

E very baseball player dreams of being at the plate for that big moment when the bases are loaded and the game is on the line.

Last week, Del Mar's Chris Henderson lived that dream.

Henderson came up in the bottom of the ninth in a tie game with the bags filled and no one out. Henderson dropped a bunt down the first base line that the Lincoln pitcher attempted to field but was too late. Chris Emory was able to slide across the plate with the run that gave Del Mar the 6-5 win in the Blossom Valley Athletic League Santa Teresa Division game.

"Henderson, what a job," said Del Mar head coach Dale Gilbert after the game. "He comes up in the ninth and does it for us."

Henderson was set up by Emory, who led off the inning with a line drive single to left. Tyler Lopez and Cullen McGagin each followed with base hits to load the bases.

Henderson finished the game with a single, a run scored and the game-winning RBI. Emory went 2 for 5 and drove in one, Lopez had one hit and was walked, and McGagin was 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch.

Del Mar took an early lead in the game, scoring a run in the bottom of the first. With one out, Thomas Johnson doubled to right center and was driven in on Emory's slap hit through the right side.

"Johnson has done a great job in a leadership role for us," said Gilbert.

Lincoln battled back to score one in the top of the third when Brad Pickens led off the inning by taking one for the team, then went to second when Kris Heredia dropped a sacrifice bunt. Frank Schiff went to first on four balls, and then Alex Nelson loaded the bases when he was struck with a pitch. Pickens scored on a wild pitch before Henderson, who was on the hill for the Dons, was able to get out of the inning.

Lincoln extended its lead to 5-1 in the top of third when it scored four more runs before shortstop Chris Mendoza made a diving catch to end the inning.

Trailing by four, Del Mar fought back in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Henderson singled to center and then went to second when Daniel Farias hit a high chopper to short, both runners advancing when the first baseman for Lincoln couldn't hold onto the high throw that Farias had already beaten. Chase Spivey grounded out to second, but it was enough to score Henderson and advance Farias. With two outs and a runner on third, Mendoza hit a ground ball into the hole at short that he beat for a hit and Farias scored. With a runner on first Dallin Blank blasted the ball over the right fielder's head for a double and an RBI when Mendoza scored from first. Johnson followed suit with a double to left center that scored Blank.

Johnson was the power hitter of the day for the Dons with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a run scored. Farias had a pair of hits with a run scored; Blank doubled, scored once, drove in one and had a walk; Mendoza had a hit, an RBI, walked once and scored a run; and Spivey drove in a run.

"We're playing everybody tough right now," said Gilbert. "It's nice to get one at home. Lincoln is a well coached team, and we know any time we play them it's going to be a tough game."

Johnson was the most effective pitcher of the day for Del Mar, throwing the final four innings, allowing no runs and striking out four on 55 pitches.

Lincoln and Del Mar met again on March 20, but this time Lincoln came out on top 9-3. The win brings Lincoln to 6-2 in league and dropped Del Mar to 2-6.

Del Mar's Farias had two hits and an RBI in the loss.

Del Mar will host Prospect on March 28 at 3:30 p.m.

Panthers win two

Prospect's baseball team downed Mt. Pleasant twice last week, 12-0 on March 20 and 16-1 two days earlier. The Panthers are now 7-5 in the Santa Teresa Division.

In the recent win, Prospect's Curtis Vanwaardenberg got his third win on the mound, going six innings and allowing only two hits while striking out eight. Alex Juull was the powerhouse for the Panthers, knocking two hits, including a double, and driving in two runs.

Joel Palermo also had two hits with an RBI, Vanwaardenberg knocked a base hit and drove in two, Juull belted a double, drove in two and scored twice, and Michael Brown smacked a hit and drove in two. Nick Kinder had a single and an RBI, Brian Fischer singled and drove in a run and Brandon Willard doubled and had an RBI.

In the first meeting, Prospect's Brian Fischer threw a complete game to make him 4-0 so far this season. Kyle Peck knocked two hits and drove in four. Vanwaardenberg had three hits with a double and a homer and four RBIs. Nathan Snyder and Fischer each had a pair of hits and drove in a run apiece. Sheehan singled, drove in two and scored four runs, while Brown added a triple and two RBIs. Juull and Palermo both had RBIs.

Prospect was to face Palo Alto on March 24 and will head to Del Mar for the game on Friday.

Split for Warriors

Westmont split with Santa Teresa last week, winning 3-2 in eight innings on March 20 and falling 4-2 on March 18.

In the Warriors' win it was Brian Scott on the mound for his first win of the season, with Chase Volgenau knocking two hits, including a double, and also driving in a run. Brian Scott had two hits and drove in a run, while David Messer added a pair of singles. Max Rao had a hit and drove in one, Shiloh Stevens had a hit and Cannon Bernarding had a hit and was walked once. Gavin Copley had a hit and scored a run.

In the loss, Bernarding belted a double and scored a run for Westmont. Copley also had a hit and scored, while Messer had a single and drove in a run.

The two games bring Westmont to 5-3 in the Mt. Hamilton Division.

Westmont will host Branham on March 26 at 3:30 p.m. and then travel to Branham to play the Bruins on the road at 3:30 p.m. on March 28.