Worden tosses no-hitter for Falcons

By Dick Sparrer

Jason Worden didn't figure to be one of the top two pitchers for the Saratoga baseball team this spring. That's no reflection on Worden's abilities on the hill. It's just that the Falcons had three talented seniors returning--all-leaguers Mike Drew and Brett Miller and comeback starter Brian Cavanaugh.

So despite a 6-1 season for the frosh-soph squad a year ago, Worden figured to spend his junior season in the Saratoga bullpen.

But when Drew and Miller started the year on the disabled list, Worden was pressed into duty as a starter for the Falcons. And judging by the way he's been pitching to date, he's going to be a tough guy to knock out of that Saratoga starting rotation. Worden is 2-1 for the Falcons, and one of those two wins was a no-hitter tossed last week against Mountain View.

Worden blanked the Spartans on no hits in the game that ended in five innings because of the 10-run rule. The 6-foot-2 righthander struck out five on his way to recording his second complete game victory in league play. He had tossed a 4-hitter at Palo Alto in a 10-4 win a week earlier.

Worden's teammates supported him with a 12-hit attack against the Spartans. Powerful Brady Moran knocked in five runs with two doubles and a single, and Drew and Nick Blue drove in two runs apiece with two singles each. Robin Gill had two hits for the Falcons, and Erick Raich doubled.

Saratoga staked Worden to a comfortable lead with three runs in the first, six in the second and four more in the third.

The Falcons, now 5-1-1 in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League and 8-4-2 for the year, came back later in the week with a 6-1 victory over Palo Alto.

Raich had the big blast of the game, a two-run homer, and Dan Morse tripled home a couple of runs. Miller was the winning pitcher for the Falcons, pushing his record to 2-1.

Saratoga faces just one game this week, a March 30 clash with Lynbrook at Saratoga. Game time is 3:30 p.m.

Warriors split

Scoring runs and winning baseball games--it's no easy task in the rugged Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League this spring.

Westmont seemed to have little trouble mastering the first half of that formula last week. The second half? Well, it wasn't quite as easy.

The Warriors rolled up 20 runs in two league games last week, but Westmont had to settle for just one win in the competitive Mt. Hamilton Division.

Westmont lost a tough 11-9 decision to Leland to open the week, but the Warriors fought back with a thrilling 11-10 last-inning victory over Valley Christian.

The split left the Warriors in a four-team tie for first place in the division. Westmont shares the league lead with Del Mar, Leland and Oak Grove, all four clubs sporting 3-2 records. Santa Teresa (3-3) and Valley Christian (2-2) are also hot in the race.

It was a two-out single by Tony LaVista that plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh against Valley Christian last Friday.

The clubs were locked in a tight game through four innings. Westmont had scored single runs in the second and fourth to lead 2-0, but Valley busted loose for seven runs in the fifth to move in front.

The Warriors answered with four runs in the home half of the fifth to cut the lead to 7-6, but Valley added three more in the top of the seventh to jump out to a 10-6 advantage.

But there was no quit in the Warriors. They battled back with a five-run rally capped by LaVista's game-winning hit.

Senior catcher Seth Zajac blasted a home run and singled to knock in three runs in the win.

Kyle Collins, another senior, singled and doubled and was also the winning pitcher for the Warriors. Mike Cifelli supported with a single and a double.

Earlier in the week, the Warriors had rolled up nine runs, but they lost a heartbreaker when Leland scored two in the bottom of the sixth to tie it and two more in the seventh to win it.

Cifelli singled and doubled to lead a five-hit attack for the Warriors. Schyler Nolan drove home two runs for Westmont.

Mt. Hamilton Division standings: Del Mar 3-2, Leland 3-2, Oak Grove 3-2, Westmont 3-2, Santa Teresa 3-3, Valley Christian 2-2, Pioneer 0-4.

Panthers drop two

The Prospect baseball team dropped a pair of games last week, falling 1-0 to Mt. Pleasant and 4-1 to Silver Creek to slip to 3-2 in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL and to 6-5 overall.

Darrell Jacks doubled and singled twice to lead the Prospect offensive attack, but the Panthers lost a 4-1 nod to the Raiders. Brett Bonvechio singled and doubled, and Casey Macartney doubled in the loss.

Earlier in the week, the Panthers lost a 1-0 heartbreaker to the Cardinals. The clubs were locked in a scoreless tie through six innings before Mt. Pleasant scored the game's only run in the top of the seventh.

Steve Marrs was stuck with the tough pitching loss, and Jason Hesenflow doubled for one of just two Prospect hits in the game.

New SVCN paper begins publication in Campbell

Community, district should compromise on trees

Engagement: Kristie Kuechler, Christopher Reid

Saratoga Sampler: Lee family musicians; Cattle Baron's Ball; The Joe Trio

Sports Briefs

Falcons win two in softball

Worden tosses no-hitter for Falcons

Saratoga, Westmont golfers earn league victories