The Vikings and Colts had played three innings in their Coast Conference South Division game, and there were only zeroes on the scoreboard.

That would change quickly--and drastically.

The Vikings put three runs on the board in the top of the fourth to give Hernandez all he really needed to nail down the win, but they backed that up with a nine-run outburst in the fifth.

West Valley went on to blast Cañada 17-0 on the strength of a 19-hit offensive attack and a 4-hit shutout by Hernandez. The southpaw out of Santa Clara High ran his record to 5-1 with the win.

Brian Wendt (Leigh) led the offensive explosion with a double and three singles to knock in three runs, and Jason Hershfield (Santa Teresa) homered, doubled and singled to drive in five. Andrew Cummins (Live Oak) singled and doubled, and Adam Lara (Leland) and Doug Porras (Live Oak) also had two hits each. Eric Thames (Bellarmine) ripped a triple, and Ben Hemeon (Gilroy) and Jeff Stream (Wilcox) each doubled home a couple of runs.

The Vikings improved to 14-5 for the year and to 3-1 in the conference with the win. It's a good start for a club that veteran head coach Mike Perez expects to contend for a title this spring.

Perez likes the strength of his pitching staff, led by starters Hernandez, David Berner (Santa Clara) and Ricky Meinhold (Westmont). All three are left-handers. Veteran right-handers David Newton (Live Oak) and Hershfield will also give the Vikings depth on the mound, and freshman lefty Jason Codiroli (Mitty) is a top prospect.

Hershfield, though, will spend most of his time at shortstop where he returns along with sophomore second sacker Teddy Saenz (Leland) to provide veteran leadership up the middle.

Newton, Thames and Codiroli are also all top prospects in the outfield.

Perez figures the main competition in the division will come from Chabot and Hartnell, and the Vikings will face each team over the next few days. West Valley will host the College of San Mateo on March 16, 2 p.m., before traveling to Hartnell on March 18, noon, and to Chabot on March 21, 2 p.m.

Prior to blanking Cañada, the Vikings ripped Monterey Peninsula 12-4. Meinhold was the mound winner, pushing his record to 2-1.

Thames doubled and tripled and Hershfield and Porras each singled and doubled to lead the 12-hit assault for West Valley. Hershfield also knocked in three runs.

Saenz ripped a couple of hits, Michael Moreno (Valley Christian) doubled and Wendt drove in two runs.