Photograph by Robert Scheer
Prospect's Brad King dives safely into first in the Panthers' battle with Willow Glen. The two clubs met in the fight for first place in the division last week, and Willow Glen pulled out a 9-3 victory.
By Dick Sparrer
Prospect and Willow Glen were both winners.
Willow Glen was busy breaking a 2-2 tie with single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to take Independence 4-2, while Prospect was hanging on for an 8-7 win over Del Mar.
And with the two Tuesday victories, the clubs set up a Thursday showdown--for first place in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
The Rams beat the 76ers to improve to 6-0 in the division, and the Panthers topped the Dons to move to 5-1. When they met on Thursday at Willow Glen, either there would be a first-place tie in the Santa Teresa circuit, or the Rams would move out to a two-game lead over the rest of the pack.
And the bad news for Prospect was good news for Willow Glen.
The Rams broke open a tight 3-2 game with three runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to cruise to a 9-3 victory a two-game lead in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL.
Dan Baucus ripped a two-run home run in the second to give the Panthers an early lead, but the Rams fought back with three runs in the third to go in front.
That's how it remained through four innings, with Baucus and Willow Glen's Ryan Davis locked in a pitcher's duel.
But the Rams broke things open with three runs in the fifth. The Panthers battled back with a run in the sixth to make it 6-3, but Willow Glen scored three more in the sixth to all but wrap up the win.
Davis blanked the Panthers in the seventh to nail down the win and the two-game lead in the standings.
Mark Johnston drilled a pair of doubles to lead the seven-hit attack for the Panthers in the loss.
Prospect slipped to 5-2 in the division and to 8-5 for the year with the loss.
The Panthers had opened the week with the 8-7 win over the Dons. Steve Bond doubled twice to drive in three runs, and Brandon Morgan doubled and drove home a pair of runs.
Nick Crawford was the winning pitcher for the Panthers, pushing his season record to 2-0.
Prospect jumped on the Dons for four runs in the first and led 5-0 after adding a run in the third. Del Mar battled back with four in the fourth, but the Panthers answered right back with three in the home half of the frame to lead 8-4 after four.
But the Dons wouldn't quit. They picked up a run in the fifth and two more in the seventh to cut the lead the one, but that's how it ended.
Prospect will host Independence on April 15, 3:30 p.m., as they attempt to battle back into the title picture in the division. The Panthers will face the Rams again on May 5, but have to continue winning and hope for a Willow Glen loss along the way to have a shot at the division title.
Westmont wins
Adam Curtis had a big day to lead Westmont's baseball team to a 14-10 win over Lincoln in the West Valley Division of the BVAL last week.
Curtis doubled, tripled and homered to drive in two runs for the Warriors in the victory. Zack Felder supported with a single and double to knock in four runs for the Warriors.
Scott Smith doubled and drove home three runs for the winners.
The Warriors improved to 5-1 in the division with the win. They are 8-4 overall this spring.
Mats top 'Toga
Monta Vista rallied for a 15-8 win over Saratoga in a nonleague game last week.
Ryan Realini led a 15-hit Monta Vista attack with two doubles and a single to drive in five runs for the winners. Chad Purcell doubled and singled twice to knock in four runs.
Seth Wagner singled and tripled, Nick Flood had two hits and Matt Huff drove home two runs to help the Matadors to the victory.
Brian Purdy was the winning pitcher and helped his own cause with a pair of singles.
Monta Vista had to battle from behind to pull out the victory. The Falcons scored three runs in the first and four more in the second to lead 7-0 early.
But Monta Vista chipped away with a run in the third, four in the fifth and three in the sixth to lead 8-7. The Matadors broke the game open with a seven-run rally in the seventh.
Kyle Cardin homered and singled twice to lead the Falcons at the plate. Trent Frisina supported with a single and double.
Vikings split
Stace Russo and Matt Rhoads each had big weeks at the plate, but the Lynbrook baseball team could manage just a split in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League last week.
The Vikings opened the week with an exiciting 7-5 win over Cupertino, battling back from a 5-4 deficit with three runs in the last of the sixth.
Russo tripled and singled twice to lead the 12-hit attack for Lynbrook. Dan Hoss and David Peng each singled and doubled to knock in three runs apiece, and Rhoads slapped a pair of singles.
Nick Kouvaris picked up the mound win for the Vikes, pushing his season record to 4-1.
Ryan Norcross, Mia Martin and Ryan Stewart had three hits each to lead an 11-hit assault for the Pioneers in the loss. Norcross had two doubles and drove home three runs, and Martin also doubled.
The Pioneers went out to a 2-0 lead in the third, but Lynbrook matched the two runs in the bottom of the frame, then scored two more in the fourth to move in front 4-2.
But Cupertino scored two in the fifth and one more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead, only to fall when the Vikes rallied for three in the home half of the sixth.
Lynbrook slipped to 8-7 for the year and 6-3 in the division later in the week after losing 13-11 to Los Altos in a slugfest.
Russo blasted a home run and Rhoads doubled twice, but it wasn't enough for the Vikes. Fred Ramirez singled and doubled for Lynbrook, and Jered Schoettmer singled and tripled.
The Vikes will try to get back on the winning track when they visit Gunn on April 15, 3:30 p.m.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, April 16, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.