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Rams make pitch for baseball title
Durkin, Hobbs lead Willow Glen into Santa Teresa Division
By Dick Sparrer
Willow Glen's Matt Durkin and Bobby Hobbs were arguably the two best pitchers in the West Valley Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League last spring. But even though they both return to the diamond for the Rams in the 2001 season, they won't be the best in the West Valley circuit this spring.
The reason is simple... the Rams are no longer in the West Valley Division.
Because of the efforts of Durkin, Hobbs and the rest of the 2000 Rams, Willow Glen has moved back up into the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL. And after winning the West Valley title last year, the Rams are ready to contend for another BVAL title this season.
Eight returning all-leaguers and a talented crop of newcomers lead Willow Glen coach Gary Rose to believe that his club will figure among the pennant contenders in the middle division.
"We have a dominant pitching staff and a solid returning defense," said Rose. He added that the Rams could battle for first place "if we stay healthy."
"We have an exciting group of varsity players as well as 'live' freshman and sophomore class prospects," he said.
Senior hurlers Durkin and Hobbs return to the mound after winning all-league honors last season. Durkin was a first-team pick in the West Valley Division and Hobbs was named the Junior of the Year.
Seniors Gabe Candelaria, Daniel Rice, Alvin Rideau, Pete Watts, Josh Weaver and Jared Jeffrey are other solid returners for Willow Glen.
Candelaria, an outfielder, and Rice, a third baseman, were all-league first-teamers last season. Winning all-league second-team spots were Rideau (catcher), Watts (first baseman) and Josh Weaver (middle infielder). Jeffrey (outfielder) was an all-league honorable mention pick.
Senior Mike DeBono and junior Joe Sanchez are top transfers at Willow Glen this spring. DeBono, a transfer from Valley Christian, joins Durkin and Hobbs as a top pitcher and he also doubles as an infielder. Sanchez, a Pioneer transfer, is a speedy outfielder.
Freshman Chris Hobbs is a top prospect as either an outfielder or infielder for the Rams.
Senior hurler Nathan McDonald rounds out a tough mound staff for Willow Glen.
The Rams won the West Valley Division with a 14-3 record last year and posted a 19-8 record overall. Rose expects more of the same this season, and figures his Rams and Piedmont Hills enter the league season as the title favorites.
That league season gets under way this week when the Rams visit Mount Pleasant on March 6 and host Pioneer on March 8 in a couple of 3:30 p.m. games.
Willow Glen enters the league season with a 2-3 nonleague record. The Rams beat Del Mar twice in the Blossom Hill Tournament, but lost twice to Bellarmine. The Rams also lost to Oak Grove.
Durkin threw a strong game, but doubles by Patrick Cunningham and Darin Vieira sparked Bellarmine to a tight 3-1 win over the Rams in the first round of the Blossom Hill tourney.
Willow Glen slipped to 0-2 after a tight 5-4 loss to powerful Oak Grove. Weaver had three hits for the Rams and Jeffrey ripped two.
Willow Glen halted its losing ways and pulled even for the year with back-to-back wins over Del Mar last week.
Watts singled and doubled to drive in two runs and Weaver had two hits to lead the Rams to an 11-1 win over the Dons. Jeffrey knocked in two runs in the game and McDonald was the winning pitcher as the Rams limited Del Mar to just four hits.
Hobbs picked up the mound win in a 7-3 win over Del Mar a few days later.
Weaver led a 12-hit attack for Willow Glen with three singles. Rideau singled and doubled to knock in two runs and Watts singled and doubled. Rice and Scott Wallberg added two hits apiece.
It was a big six-run rally in the top of the seventh that helped the Rams battle back from a 2-1 deficit for the 7-3 win.
Willow Glen ran into Bellarmine again in the tournament semifinals and lost a 4-1 decision. McDonald was stuck with the loss for the Rams.
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Willow Glen, California Since 1992
