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Defense helps Westmont to win
By Dick Sparrer
Either power hitting or power pitching will often prove to be the difference in a baseball game.
But never underestimate the value of the defensive play.
Westmont coach Jason Miller certainly doesn't, because it was his club's defense that spelled the difference last week in a 9-3 win over Pioneer in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.
Two bases-loaded situations in the second inning had very different results for the Warriors and Mustangs last week. And because of it, Westmont was able to break the game wide open.
Pioneer had the bags full and a run home with no outs in the top half of the second. But senior Kyle Collins fielded a slow roller and gunned a strike to catcher Seth Zajac for the first out of the frame.
The next hitter lined a shot down the first- base line, but first sacker Jim Brown snagged the liner off his shoetops and tagged his bag for a double play to get Warriors starter Mike Cifelli out of the jam.
The Mustangs had tied the score 1-1, but Westmont rallied right back. Travis Cheney walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Adam Antolin. Andrew Carter singled up the middle to drive Cheney home.
But the Warriors weren't finished yet. After an out, Collins and Brown slapped back-to-back singles to load the bases. Pioneer appeared to get out of trouble when Zajac bounced a ground ball to third, but the third sacker booted the ball.
Carter scored easily, and Collins caught the Mustangs napping, scoring all the way from second. Brown and Zajac ended up on second and third.
Cifelli helped his cause with a run-scoring infield single, and Zajac came home on a wild pitch to cap the five-run rally.
Westmont had jumped in front early in the game when Collins ripped a 3-2 pitch to the fence in center for a double. Zajac knocked him home with a ground out.
The Mustangs got the run back in the top of the second, then scored two more in the fourth, but Westmont put the game away with three runs in the sixth.
Antolin, who was two-for-two with a sacrifice bunt and two stolen bases, singled and swiped second to open the inning, then romped home on a bloop single by pinch-hitter Colin McAvoy.
Collins dropped a single into right, chasing Mike Hilbert (who had re-entered for McAvoy) to third. Collins took second on the throw, then both runners scored on Zajac's infield hit.
Collins led the Warriors with three hits, and Brown and Antolin had two hits apiece.
Cifelli went three-plus innings to get the pitching win, and Blake Barr finished up with three-plus innings of one-hit relief.
It was the only win of the week for the Warriors, who lost 8-3 to Valley Christian on Monday and 10-5 to Oak Grove on Friday. The Warriors are now 4-6 in the Mt. Hamilton Division and 7-9 for the year.
Zajac blasted a two-run homer in the sixth and Brown doubled, but the Warriors lost to Valley.
Hilbert had two hits in the loss to Oak Grove on Friday.
Dons go 1-2
In other Mt. Hamilton Division action, Del Mar won just one of three games last week. The Dons beat Santa Teresa 5-4, but lost 19-10 to Oak Grove and 6-2 to Valley Christian.
Kyle Viau had a big day in Del Mar's win over the Saints. Viau homered and singled to drive in two runs, and also was the winning pitcher, evening his record at 2-2.
Nick Mitchell doubled twice to knock in a pair of runs for the Dons, and David Sanfilippo had two hits.
The Dons, 4-6 in the division and 9-12 for the year, lost 19-10 to Oak Grove to open the week. Mitchell and Viau had two hits apiece in the loss.
Greg Leon homered and singled and James Rollins and Rocky Roberto had two hits apiece, but Del Mar lost 6-2 to Valley Christian. Sanfilippo doubled for the Dons.
C.J. Houston was the winning pitcher for the Warriors, evening his record at 1-1.
Panthers go 2-1
Prospect won two of three games last week to improve to 6-4 in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL. Prospect is 10-7 for the year.
Brett Bonvechio doubled home a run in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Panthers to a tight 2-1 win over Silver Creek to open the week.
Darrell Jacks had two hits in the win.
Bonvechio crushed a grand slam and Jacks homered to lead the Panthers to a 14-2 win over Piedmont Hills. Bonvechio added a double and drove in six runs for the winners, and Jacks singled and finished with four runs batted in.
Casey Macartney singled and doubled for the Panthers, and Curtis Wills had two hits to drive in a pair of runs. David Hildreth also had two hits in the win.
Jacks homered and singled to knock in three runs, and Macartney had three hits, but the Panthers lost a tough 14-6 decision to unbeaten Leigh. Bonvechio and Hildreth each doubled and Wills had two hits.
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Campbell, California
