But when the Fremont and Homestead boys volleyball teams went head-to-head in two league matches last week the competition was intense and what was at stake was significant.

If one of the two teams could win both of the midweek matches, it would remain in contention for the division title. The loser would slip off the pace being set by first-place Los Gatos.

And it was Homestead doing just that. The Mustangs won both matches, but winning came as no easy task.

The Mustangs opened the week with a hard-earned five-game win over Fremont, then came back to beat the Firebirds three games straight in a match, but all three games were close.

Homestead pulled out a 15-13, 15-9, 6-15, 8-15, 15-13 win over Fremont last Tuesday. Jake Rosener buried 23 kills to lead the Mustangs to the win. Lance Lesui was tops for Fremont with 22.

Homestead ran its league record to 6-2 and its season mark to 12-3 with a tight 15-13, 17-15, 15-13 win over Fremont two days later. Rosener was the kill leader with 23 for the Mustangs and Bryan Hiraki was close behind with 20. Danny Mase was the Fremont leader with 11.

Fremont, 6-3 in the division and 18-6 for the year, had sandwiched a come-from-behind win over Mountain View between the two losses.

The Firebirds fell behind the Spartans 10-15, 7-15 in the best of five match, but battled back to win 15-13, 15-8, 15-10.

Mase and Sal Alvarez had 14 kills apiece to lead Fremont to the victory.


Mustangs tie

Kurt Dodge shot a one-under par 34 at the Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course, but all the Homestead golf team could manage was a 142-142 tied against Palo Alto in De Anza Division play last week.

The Mustangs are now 10-1-1 in the division, one match behind Paly (11-0-1) in the league standings.


Fremont splits

The Fremont baseball team split a pair of decisions last week. The Firebirds knocked off second-place Palo Alto 4-1, but lost 12-2 to league-leading Wilcox. The Firebirds are now 6-5 in the De Anza Division of the SCVAL.

Ryan Boardman had a big day for Fremont against Paly. The senior right hander was the winning pitcher, pushing his mound record to 3-1, and he also singled and tripled to drive in two runs. Jack Chapman supported with a double for the Firebirds.

The clubs were locked in a scoreless tie through three innings, but Fremont picked up a run in the fourth and three more in the sixth on the road to the win.

Wilcox struck early with five runs in the first and rolled from there to a 12-2 win two days later. Matt Martinez knocked in two runs with a seventh-inning single for the Firebirds.

The Firebirds face a pair of non-league games this week. Fremont was to visit Westmont on April 22 and will head to Menlo on April 25, 3:30 p.m.


Mustangs win two

The Homestead baseball team won two of three games in the Cupertino Host Lions Tournament played last week.

The Mustangs edged Terra Nova 4-2, then, after dropping a 5-3 decision to Gilroy, they beat Lynbrook 11-7.

Jeff Hungerford and Chris McKim teamed to toss a three-hitter to lead the Mustangs past Terra Nova. Hungerford was the winning pitcher, running his record to 2-1, and McKim came on in relief to get his third save of the year.

Brian McGee doubled twice and singled to lead an 11-hit assault for the Mustangs. Joey Faber and Easton Friedling ripped two hits apiece and Craig Moberg doubled.

The Mustangs scored two runs in the second to take the lead, then added single runs in the third and sixth before giving up two in the seventh.

McKim had two hits and Chris Bailey doubled, but the Mustangs lost 5-3 to Gilroy. The game was locked in a 3-3 tie through five innings, but Gilroy picked up two in the sixth and held on for the win.

Bailey doubled twice and knocked in six runs to drive Homestead to the 11-7 win over Lynbrook. Moberg singled and tripled to plate a pair of runs and Danny Sizemore doubled.

Tim Strombel was the winning pitcher for Homestead and Keith McLaughlin came on to get the save. The Mustangs, 11-8 for the year, return to El Camino Division play this week. They were to face Lynbrook on Monday and Monta Vista Tuesday.

The Vikings also lost 8-0 to Gilroy and 15-3 to Terra Nova in the tournament and Monta Vista dropped a 12-8 nod to San Benito in the tournament.

Mitty beat San Benito 9-7 in the tournament semifinals, then beat Terra Nova 12-5 in the championship game.