But the thing was, the Prospect senior was satisfied with that effort—so he came right back and did it again.

Puccinelli ripped a pair of homers to lead the Panthers to a 9-2 win over Bellarmine in the semifinals of the Blossom Valley Tournament. Prospect went on to lose 12-3 to Leland in the championship game to settle for second place in the rugged preseason tourney.

It was Puccinelli's big day that pushed the Panthers into that title game. He was 3 for 4 and knocked in four runs in the 9-2 victory. The two homers were the first of his baseball career, which dates back to T-ball, and he clubbed them out of a pretty big yard—San Jose's PAL Stadium.

Puccinelli had a little help from his friends in that game. Aaron Jacks doubled and singled twice to drive in four runs in the win, and Steven Vidal had two hits.

Kyle Bonvechio went the distance on the hill to flip a six-hitter for the win.

Jacks homered and singled and Vidal crushed a homer, but the Panthers lost 12-3 in the tournament championship game.

Prospect had opened the tournament with a 7-4 win over Willow Glen. Jacks singled and homered to drive in two runs, and Vidal, Steven Kong and Ted Piggins had two hits each. Jacks was the winning pitcher.

The Panthers lost 5-0 to Bellarmine, despite getting two hits from Piggins, and 9-2 to Leland in pool play but came back to upset number one seed Santa Teresa in the tournament quarterfinals.

Jacks went the distance to whirl a five-hitter for the win. He struck out 10 and helped his own cause at the plate with a couple of hits to drive in two runs.

Kong and Bonvechio came through with two hits apiece in the win. Vidal added a double.

Prospect battled back from a 3-2 deficit with a three-run rally in the fifth to pull out the win over the Saints.

The Panthers, champions in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last year, have moved up to the Mt. Hamilton Division this spring, and they opened league play last week with a 9-4 loss to Mt. Pleasant.

The game was tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the third, but the Cardinals rallied for two runs in the third and four more in the fifth to cruise to the win.

Piggins crushed a three-run homer in the third inning for the Panthers. Vidal had two hits, Jacks doubled in a run and Kong doubled.

The Panthers, now 3-4 for the year, will be home for two 3:30 p.m. games this week. Prospect hosts Oak Grove on March 12 and entertains Leland on March 14.


Warriors are 2-0

Jason Miller must be one happy guy.

First of all, the veteran Westmont coach is back on the baseball diamond after a year away from the sport. And he's coming back to lead what he hopes will be a title contender in the Santa Teresa Division.

"If pitching prevails, Westmont could be a contender for the title," said Miller. And with junior transfer Ricky Meinhold leading the staff, the coach figures his club could rival Branham for the division crown.

Meinhold, who can play either the outfield or infield when not on the mound, went the distance last week to lead the Warriors to a victory over Piedmont Hills in their league opener.

The newcomer is joined by a talented cast of Westmont returners led by Mike Gorski and Josh Herzbrun.

Gorski, a senior third baseman, returns for his third varsity season. He was a first-team all-leaguer in the Mt. Hamilton Division last spring.

Herzbrun, a senior shortstop, is back on the Westmont diamond after winning all-league honorable mention plaudits last year.

Mitch Monroe moves up to the varsity this season after winning the Mt. Hamilton Division's most valuable player award last year on the frosh-soph level.

Westmont opened league play last week with the 6-3 win over Piedmont. Meinhold tossed an eight-hitter, striking out nine, as he went the distance for the mound win.

Gorski led the 10-hit assault for the Warriors with a home run and two singles to knock in three runs.

Dan Weller singled and doubled for Westmont, and Herzbrun belted a pair of singles.

The game was tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, when the Warriors rallied for three runs to clinch the victory.

Westmont unloaded for 15 runs on 13 hits two days later to rip the Lions 15-8. The Warriors took the early lead with a five-run rally in the fifth, then put the game away with a six-run outburst in the fifth.

Monroe doubled and singled twice to drive in three runs for Westmont in the win, and Herzbrun knocked in four runs.

Matt Davis singled and doubled to drive in two runs, and Brad Davis ripped a two-run homer. Weller and Meinhold each had two hits to drive in two runs apiece, and Jimmy Stevenson doubled.

Senior southpaw Bryan Adragna was the winning pitcher, evening his record to 1-1.


Westmont wins

Phillip Shin and Brent Picard shared the spotlight last week as the Westmont golf team nailed two wins in Mt. Hamilton Division play.

Picard fired a one-under 35 to lead the Warriors to a 175-193 win over Piedmont Hills at Summitpointe, and Shin shot even par with a 37 at Coyote Creek in a 172-186 win over the Pirates.

The Warriors are 4-0 for the year and 2-0 in division play.

Prospect, meanwhile, pulled out a 219-227 win over Yerba Buena in Santa Teresa Division play. Greg Hawkins led the Panthers with a 45 on the par-35 Santa Teresa Golf Course.