SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: BASEBALL ROUNDUP, Feb. 10th, 2024
Bishop Amat defeats Damien and Maranatha impresses at Prep Baseball Report event.
Bishop Amat’s Aaron Sandin impressed in the Lancers’ win over Damien. (Escarcega)
BASEBALL
On opening day in baseball...
AT THE PIZZA CHALET TOURNAMENT
Bishop Amat 5, Damien 2 - The Lancers jumped on the visiting Spartans early by scoring four in the first inning which proved to be the difference. Damien’s Nikko Paoletto, a University of Utah commit, hit a solo home run in the sixth inning that had a projected exit speed of 94 MPH. Bishop Amat’s Aaron Sandin was effective as he allowed one earned run on 2 hits and struck out six in 5 2/3 innings of work to pick up the decision. Nathan Ries, a UC San Diego commit, allowed all five runs and struck out two to pick up the loss.
La Salle 5, Don Lugo 0 – The Lancers offense got going early as they opened a five-run lead and shut out the Conquistadors at Arcadia County Park. Peter Callahan had three hits and Adrian Hernandez tossed five shutout innings and struck out five to earn the decision.
Arcadia 1, Charter Oak 0, 9 innings – In one of the better games of the day, Jerry Carlos’ single scored Fernando Palencia with the winning run for the Apaches over the host Chargers. Gerry Lopez was effective on the mound for Arcadia as he tossed six shutout innings and struck out nine. Athen Malone, a Cal State Fullerton signee, also looked solid as he threw eight scoreless and struck out seven.
Bonita 5, Crescenta Valley 4, 12 innings – Diego Vasquez was the day's hero for the host Bearcats as he scored on an error in the bottom of the 12 inning that gave the Bearcats a thrilling win. Darien Maung went 2 for 3 for the Bearcats. Cam Farina surrendered only two runs on five hits and struck out eight in 5 1/3 innings of work but did not get the decision.
Other Scores
San Dimas 11, Norco 1
AT THE PREP BASEBALL REPORT TOURNAMENT
Maranatha 6, El Dorado 3: The Minuteman flexed their muscles early as they opened a 4-0 lead and cruised to an easy win over the Golden Hawks. Dylan Garcia had the big hit of the third inning as his single scored two runs that keyed a rally. UCLA commit Zach Strickland was solid on the mound as he tossed five scoreless innings, struck out nine, and gave up one hit.
Santa Margarita 2, La Mirada 1: In another thrilling first-round game, the Matadores tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the seventh inning as Travis Friend grounded out to allow Mavereck Russell to score. However, the Eagles won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning when Arren Gravely IV reached on baseball on an error by Kevin Jeon that scored Brody Schumaker with the winning run. Walker Calvo, an Army signee, allowed one run on four hits and struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Corona 2, Ayala 0: Three Corona pitchers kept the Bulldogs hitless in their win. Ayala’s Matthew Yarc gave up one earned run on four hits and struck out four in a complete-game effort.
Harvard Westlake 3, South Hills 1: The Huskies jumped to a 1-0 lead in the second inning, only for the Wolverines to push two runs across in the bottom of the third inning and tack on a run in the sixth inning to emerge with the win. South Hills’ only run occurred when Carson Baker executed a safety squeeze in the 2nd that drove in Noah Malone with the only run in the second inning. The Huskies used four pitchers in Saturday’s game. South Hills is back in action on Monday at home against Corona Santiago as part of the Pizza Chalet Tournament.
In other action
South Pasadena 7, El Rancho 1: Griffin Johnson drove in three runs and Devin Robinson Jr had two hits in the Tigers’ home win over the Dons. Nolan Adams allowed one run and fanned four hitters in six innings to earn the win.
Cantwell Sacred Heart 12, Rosemead 1: The Cardinals hitting attack was led by sophomore #4 Jacob Bonilla who went 3-4 with 3 runs scored and 3 RBI. Junior #15 Alan Retana went 3-3 with 3 RBI and freshman catcher #9 Elias Vigil went 2-3 with 3 RBI. On the mound, the Cardinals were led by sophomore #1 Jackson Villagran who picked up the victory going 4 innings with 7 strikeouts and giving up 1 hit.
Bosco Tech 10, United Christian Academy 0, 5 innings: Devin Gomez tossed a two-hitter and struck five in the Tigers’ win.
Monrovia 2, Mayfair 1: The Rams rallied from a 1-0 deficit by scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning to pull out the win.
Whittier 10, Sierra Vista 0: Jacob Rocha threw a complete-game two-hitter and struck out 13 in the first game of a doubleheader. Andrew Ruvalcaba had two doubles. Ruvalcaba also had two hits in game two and drove in two runs, but the game ended in a 3-3 tie after an injury was suffered by a Sierra Vista player.
St. Paul 5, Norwalk 1: Kalai Benavente had a big day on the mound for the Swordsmen as he struck out 12 hitters to earn the win. He also helped his own case by going 2-3 offensively. Christian De Lira scored twice.
Glendora 8, Downey 3: The Tartans broke open a closely played game by scoring four runs in the top of the seventh inning for the win. Aidan Yamasaki drove in two runs and Tyler Obert had two hits.
San Marino 9, Providence 0: Tomas Bilvado threw four hitless innings and struck out 10 to earn the win.
San Juan Hills 8, California 4: Fernie Rios hit a solo home run for the Condors in an opening-day loss.
La Habra 11, La Serna 1: Gavin Valenzuela had a big day as he went 4 for 4 and drove in two runs as the Highlanders overwhelmed the Lancers. Jared Day threw five innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits, and fanned three hitters to pick up the win.
Flintridge Prep 11, Verbum Dei 4: Will Grable collected two hits and drove in four runs for the Wolves in their road win.
Other scores
Arroyo 17, Keppel 2
West Covina 4, Troy 3
Marshall 14, Maywood CES 3
Chino Hills 9, Covina 1
La Quinte 7, Whittier Christian 2