It was Church's two-run homer in the top of the fourth that highlighted a three-run uprising and gave Fremont a 3-1 lead. Then it was Church's pitching arm that limited the Vikings to just one more run the rest of the way. The senior pitched all seven innings of the Firebirds' 3-2 triumph, allowing just three hits and striking out nine batters.

The victory was Fremont's second win in three days against Lynbrook and fifth in a row in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League. It improved the Firebirds' record to 6-2 in league and 7-7 overall.

Two days earlier at Fremont, Turner led the Firebirds to a 5-3 win over Lynbrook by driving in three runs with a home run and single. The outburst gave the senior third baseman four home runs and 13 RBIs in a three-game stretch. His bat barrage included a grand slam and six RBIs during a 6-1 win over Gunn on March 24 and a two-homer in a 10-5 win over Saratoga on March 23.

Justin Cecil also had two home runs against Saratoga. The junior catcher paced Fremont's 10-hit offense with three hits and four RBIs.

Junior Kevin Brahney has been an effective pitcher for the Firebirds, posting a 4-1 record in league play.

The Firebirds will try to stretch their streak to six when they visit Homestead on April 7 at 3:30 p.m.

The Mustangs, the last team to beat the Firebirds, 8-3 back in mid-March, are coming off a tough week. They lost a close 2-1 contest to Saratoga on March 31, then dropped a 7-2 non-league decision to The King's Academy.

Junior Kyle Dukes scattered just six hits against Saratoga, but Homestead managed just two against Falcon ace Scott Newberry.

Homestead's hitters did not fare much better the next day against Jason Linn and Tim Biederman of TKA. Senior shortstop Craig Moberg ripped a double and triple for Homestead, but the Mustangs totaled just four as Linn was dealing for the Knights.

Linn pitched the first six innings and gave up three hits and two runs, just one earned. He struck out 10 Mustangs, while walking just one batter and hitting another.

Linn, a 6-foot-2 senior, has been the pitching ace while the Knights have started the season 7-1. The win over Homestead improved his record to 4-0. He has posted 29 strikeouts and a 0.90 earned run average in 23 innings.

The Knights collected 12 hits against Homestead, two each by Biederman, Evan Chaney and David Norris. Catcher Tim Svozil, the team's leading hitter with a .538 batting average, drove in two runs against Homestead.

Meyer, Wen pace Fremont

Junior Aly Meyer claimed first place in two events and shared victory in two relays, leading Fremont's girls swimming team past visiting Santa Clara in an El Camino meet on March 24.

The Lady Firebirds won all three relays and all but three events in the 91-71 triumph over the Bruins. In boys competition, Larry Wen was a double winner for Fremont, but Santa Clara won 117-41.

After Meyer led one-two finishes for Fremont's girls in the 200-meter freestyle and the 200 individual medley, she sparked victories in the 200 and 400 free relay events. Meyer (2:06.82) beat out teammate Lauren Carter by nearly eight seconds in the 200 free, and she won the medley in 2:24.06, almost 12 seconds better than runner-up Annie Hughes.

Meyer's times were quicker a week earlier in Fremont's duel with Cupertino. Although the Firebirds lost the meet 98.5-68.5, Meyer's winning times in the 200 free (2:02.5) and the IM (2:17.97) beat the qualifying standards for the Central Coast Section meet.

Against Santa Clara, Meyer anchored the 200 relay and led off the 400 squad. Jamie Buckingham, Chelsea Lofland and Carter preceded Meyer as the Firebirds won the 200 in 2:02.07. In the 400, Meyer, Laine Armour, Hughes and Ellen Umeda posted a winning time of 4:19.42. Amy Lindsey, Armour, Hughes and Umeda, teamed to win the medley relay in 2:13.06.

Carter, Lindsey and Umeda all won events for the Firebirds. Carter took the 100 butterfly in 1:09.54. Lindsey (1:03.44) nipped Armour by .25 of a second in the 100 free. Umeda (1:16.98) led a Fremont sweep of the 100 breaststroke, edging Armour and Elise Gaudette.

The three events won by Santa Clara were the 50 and 500 free races and the 100 backstroke. Umeda placed second and Buckingham third in the 50 free, and Madeline McNeil was second in the 500. In the 100 back, Lofland was second and Lindsey third.

For Fremont's boys team against Santa Clara, Wen scored wins in the 200 IM (2:13.96) and the 500 free (4:52.70) and Patrick Samuels placed first in the 100 breast (1:18.79). Wen's 500 time was well under the CCS qualifying standard (5:11.59).

Samuels took a second in the 200 free, and teammates A.J. Jones (50 free) and Branden Oliver (100 free) earned thirds.

Fremont's boys managed just one first place against Cupertino, but it was a good one. Wen's victorious 100 butterfly sprint of 55.90 was nearly two seconds better than the CCS qualifying mark.