Homestead's Robbie Hoffman was one of 27 players to turn the corner at third and head for home in last week's 15-12 Homestead win over Lynbrook.

Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Mustangs knock off Vikings

Hot corner gets very hot at Lynbrook

By DICK SPARRER

They call it the hot corner.

But third base was never hotter than it was last Thursday when Homestead and Lynbrook collided for a league game in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic.

Third base at Lynbrook was hot indeed as no less than 27 baserunners touched it on their way home to score runs in the Thursday game--15 of them Mustangs, 12 of them Vikings.

And it was Homestead pulling out a 15-12 victory over Lynbrook in the afternoon slugest as the teams combined for 25 hits to go with the 27 runs.

David Dreyfous led the hit parade with a pair of doubles and chased three runners around third to score runs.

Adam Milliken singled and doubled to drive in two runs for the Mustangs, and Matt Whiteman, Robbie Hoffman and Chris Kidd had two hits each to drive in two runs each. Israel Trujillo added two hits and Brandon Dougherty knocked in two runs.

David Attard was the winning pitcher for the Mustangs and Trujillo came on in the seventh to pick up the save.

Matt Fratus doubled and singled twice to drive in two runs for the Vikings in the game. Eric Barnes singled and doubled to knock in a pair of runs and Jim Laughlin doubled.

The win was Homestead's first in league play. The Mustangs had opened the league season with losses to Gunn and Los Altos, and their March 7 game against Palo Alto was suspended because of rain (the game will be completed on March 30).

Homestead, 4-2-1 for the year, will visit Mountain View on March 21 before hosting Santa Clara on March 23 in a pair of 3:30 p.m. games.

Veteran coach Chuck Camuso sees this year's club as a title contender in the El Camino Division, rating Gunn and his own Mustangs as the title favorites.

"We have good speed, and four starting pitchers," said Camuso.

The coach looks to returning all-leaguers Milliken (outfield) and Brandon Schroder (shortstop) as leaders on the club along with returners Whiteman (first base), Attard (pitcher) and Gary Mullins (catcher).

"We're hoping that Whiteman hits the long ball," added the coach.

Camuso is also looking for big things from newcomers Dougherty (outfield), Hoffman (third base), Chris Kidd (outfield) and Bryan Skitt (pitcher).

Vikings win

Lynbrook was coming off of a tight 9-8 win over Mountain View. The Vikings broke open a 4-4 game with five runs in the fifth, then held on as the Spartans answered with four in the bottom of the sixth.

Fratus went five innings to get the pitching win for Lynbrook, striking out six in his stint, and Richard Shen came on to pick up the save.

Eric Barnes doubled and singled twice to lead a nine-hit attack for the Vikings. Brian Seip singled and doubled in the win and Amir Tahsini had two hits.

Pioneers split

Cupertino lost a lopsided 16-1 decision to Wilcox to open play last week, but the Pioneers fought back with a 5-2 win over Monta Vista to even their record at 1-1 in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL.

Mike Runfola and Paul Ratner slapped two hits apiece, but the Pioneers lost to the Chargers, favorites to win it all in the division this spring.

Matt Perreira doubled and singled to knock in two runs and lead the Pioneers to the 5-2 win over Monta Vista.

Ajay Nagdev had two hits and Casey Wilms and Daryl Griffin each doubled for the Matadors.

Mats top Cats

Wilms belted four hits, including a double, and Nagdev and Steve Chuang added two hits apiece to lead Monta Vista to an 8-5 win over Los Gatos. Andrew Ishak was the winning pitcher for the Mats.

Monta Vista had lost 8-5 to Saratoga to open the week. Griffin doubled and singled twice for the Mats and Nagdev singled and tripled to drive in two runs.

Sheriff's Report

In the old days, teens weren't, like, cool

FUHSD alum Marty Mathiesen helps celebrate district's 75th anniversary

Sports Briefs

Homestead baseball team defeats Lynbrook