Willow Glen Resident
Sports
Nelson's swinging a hot bat for the Lions
By Kevin Sparrer
Alex Nelson's bat is waking up early in the season, and it's doing its part to help the Lincoln High School baseball team to victories in the Santa Teresa Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
Nelson knocked three hits and drove in two runs to help the Lions to a 9-3 win over Del Mar on March 20 after falling to the Dons only two days earlier.
Along with Nelson, Brad Pickens smacked a pair of hits and drove in two, while Max Lawrence knocked a double and a single and drove in one. Frank Schiff ripped a hit and had two RBIs, Kris Heredia also singled and knocked one in and Ryan Cannon doubled and scored.
Heredia also threw a complete game and recorded his third win of the season, allowing only eight hits and striking out six.
Two days prior, Lincoln fell in a nine-inning game at Del Mar when the Dons scored on a bases-loaded bunt in the bottom of the ninth, despite Lincoln leading early in the game.
Del Mar took the lead first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first. But Lincoln battled back to tie it in the top of the third when Pickens led off the inning by taking one for the team, then went to second when Heredia dropped a sacrifice bunt. Schiff went to first on four balls, and then Nelson loaded the bases when he too was hit by a pitch. Pickens scored on a wild pitch before Chris Henderson, who was on the hill for the Dons, was able to get out of the inning.
Lincoln extended its lead to 5-1 in the top of third when it scored four more runs after Cannon led off the inning with a hard line-drive single to left and then went to third on a chopper up the middle by Scott Healy. Healy went to second on an attempt to throw out Cannon at third.
With two on, Max Lawrence blasted a double that hopped the wall in center, driving in both runs. Pickens reached on an error that also allowed Lawrence to reach third. Heredia bounced into a double play, but Lawrence scored the third run of the inning.
Schiff drew a two-out walk and went to second when Nelson walked behind him. Nick Demartini loaded the bases when he drew the third walk in a row. After a pitching change, Cameron Rodriguez walked to drive in another run before Cannon belted a line drive up the middle that the Del Mar shortstop made a diving catch on to end the inning.
Trailing by four, Del Mar fought back in the bottom of the fourth with one out, rallying for four runs to tie the game 5-5.
For Lincoln it was Lawrence who had the big day at the plate with a double and two singles, two RBIs and a run scored. Heredia had a hit, dropped a sacrifice bunt and drove in one, Pickens singled, walked twice, scored and was hit by a pitch, Cannon had a hit, scored and stole a base, Healy singled and scored, Schiff scored once and drew two walks, Nelson walked and was hit by a pitch, Demartini walked twice and Rodriguez drew three walks and drove in a run.
Nathan Leon was the only pitcher for Lincoln who didn't give up a run. Leon threw three innings and struck out one in 50 pitches.
Lincoln was to host San Jose on March 24 and visit the Bulldogs San Jose on March 25. The Lions will go to Prospect on April 2 for a 3:30 p.m. start.
Rams drop Cougars
Willow Glen defeated Evergreen Valley 4-3 on March 20 with Ricardo Diaz throwing a complete game, allowing only three hits and striking out 10.
At the plate it was Nathan Kadlecek who was hammering the ball for the Rams. Kadlecek had two singles and a double, drove in a run and scored. Jake Goetz blasted a double and a triple, had an RBI and scored, Dane Gurley also doubled and scored, and Elliot Boesch singled and drove in a run. Kyle Ray also scored once.
The Rams struggled on March 18 against Evergreen Valley, falling 4-0. K.C. Sullivan and Kadlecek were the only two Rams to get hits.
Splitting last week brings Willow Glen to 4-4 in the Santa Teresa Division. The Rams were to host Leland on March 24 and will head to Bellarmine to face the Bells on March 27 for a 1 p.m. start.
Leland loses two
Leland struggled a little last week, falling twice to Live Oak. The Chargers lost 7-0 on March 20, with Drew Marino smacking a double, and fell 1-0 on March 18, when Kevin Krail had the only hit.
The losses drop Leland to 3-4-1 in the Mt. Hamilton Division and 8-5-1 overall.
Leland will travel to Cupertino for a 3:30 p.m. first pitch on March 27.
Leigh, Pioneer split
Leigh defeated Pioneer 11-5 on March 20 after falling to the Mustangs 5-1 on March 18.
In the Longhorns' win it was Nick Jones who dominated at the plate, blasting four hits, including a home run and a double. Jones drove in two runs and scored four times. Ryan Pitman knocked a pair of hits and drove in two, Travis Velo added two hits, including a double, and he drove in a run. Tyler Christian doubled and had an RBI, and Matthew Brady singled and drove in one.
Steve Amaral was the winning pitcher for the Longhorns, going four innings and allowing only three hits and four runs.
For Pioneer, Aaron Lefeber scored twice.
In Pioneer's win, Don Medlinger did the work on the mound, throwing a complete game to bring his record to 3-2. Justin Souza had two hits, including a double, and he also drove in two runs.
Matt Burns had two hits for Leigh, Jones knocked a single, Brady tripled and scored and Pitman had a single.
Splitting last week brings Leigh to 7-1 in the Mt. Hamilton Division and 10-2-1 overall, while Pioneer is 2-6 in league and 4-7 overall.
Pioneer was to face San Mateo on March 22 and will host Los Gatos on March 28 at 3:30 p.m.
Leigh was to play Valley Christian of Dublin on March 25 and will host Live Oak on April 2 at 3:30 p.m.
Bruins crush Pirates
Branham crushed Piedmont Hills on March 20, winning 19-6. Sam Whittemore smacked four hits, including two doubles, and had six RBIs and a run scored. Erik Alcantar smacked three hits with a double and scored three runs, and Nick Rossetta also knocked three hits with two doubles, two RBIs and a run. Gina Valletta added two hits, including the only home run for Branham, and he drove in four and scored. Matt Nagatani singled and scored four times, Christian Pansoy doubled, drove in one and scored, Chris Mendoza doubled, drove in two and scored twice and Teddy Montemurro singled, drove in one and scored twice.
Mendoza was the winning pitcher, throwing four innings and allowing only one run.
Two days earlier, Branham had a little more trouble, falling to Piedmont 4-3 with Alcantar knocking two hits and driving in one, while Kevin Wallace singled twice and scored twice. Nagatani singled and drove in one, Whittemore singled and Montemurro had a hit. Chris Urakami also scored in the loss.
Branham was to visit Westmont on March 26 before hosting the Warriors on March 28 at 3:30 p.m.
