Saratoga Falcons lead baseball race, but they're not relaxing

They're in comfortable position in the
El Camino Division

By Dick Sparrer

Saratoga is sitting pretty.

But while the Falcons may be sitting in a comfortable position in the baseball race in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, don't get the idea that they're relaxing.

Just the opposite was true last week when the Falcons flexed their muscles for 20 hits in two games as they added two more wins to their league ledger.

Saratoga edged Santa Clara 8-7, then pounded Mountain View 15-5 to push its record to 10-1 in the division and to 14-5 for the year.

The two wins helped the Falcons maintain a two-game cushion over Gunn in the race for the division championship. But Saratoga still can't shake the pesky Titans, who remained with striking distance with two wins of their own. Gunn nipped Los Altos 6-5 and ripped Santa Clara 10-0.

Saratoga pulled out a tight win over Santa Clara to open the week, battling from behind for the victory.

The Falcons held a comfortable 5-3 lead after three innings, but the Bruins unloaded for three in the fourth to take a 6-5 lead.

Saratoga fought back with single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth, though, to move back in front 8-6, then held on as Santa Clara added a run in the seventh.

Brett Miller held off the Bruins to pick up the mound win. Mike Drew came on to pick up the save.

Matt Joyce and Erick Raich provided the offensive punch for the Falcons. Joyce blasted two home runs to knock in three runs in the win, and Raich ripped a two-run homer.

Ryan Bernard doubled twice for Saratoga, and Brady Moran had two hits. Drew also doubled for the Falcons.

Miller came back to pick up another pitcher win for the Falcons later in the week. He's now 4-0 in the division and 6-1 for the year.

Robin Gill was the hitting star with a homer and two singles to drive in five runs in the win.

Moran and Joyce each tripled for the Falcons, and Nick Blue doubled. Raich had two hits in the win.

Saratoga will host Mountain View on April 27, 3:30 p.m., before visiting Lynbrook on May 1, 3:30 p.m. The Falcons visit Gunn for a key game on May 4.

Warriors fall

It was a pretty tough week for Westmont in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. The Warriors started on Monday with a tough 9-4 loss to Leland, fell to Del Mar 12-7, then lost on Friday to Santa Teresa 13-4.

Kyle Collins had two hits, and Jim Brown doubled, but Westmont lost to Del Mar. Tony LaVista drove in a couple of runs for Westmont.

Seth Zajac knocked in a couple of runs with a pair of hits in the loss to the Chargers to open the week.

Mike Cifelli doubled twice to plate three runs, and Collins had three hits in the loss to the Saints. Brown ripped another double.

Panthers split

The Prospect baseball team split a pair of games last week in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, dropping a 2-1 heartbreaker to Gunderson before pounding Willow Glen 9-3.

Darrell Jacks and Curtis Wills each blasted home runs to lead the Panthers to the win over the Rams. Jacks finished the day with a pair of hits and knocked in three runs, and Wills had two hits.

David Marrs slapped a pair of hits to drive in four runs for the Panthers, and he was also the winning pitcher. Brett Bonvechio supported with a couple of singles.

Bonvechio had doubled earlier in the week, but the Panthers lost a tough 2-1 nod to the Grizzlies.

Prospect is now 7-5 in division play and 11-8 for the year.

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