Photograph by Scott Lechner

Grim Reaper: Westmont's Tony LaVista tosses up a deadly pitch in last Friday's 10-6 win over Pioneer. LaVista went the distance for the victory.

Warriors finish with wins

Marrs tosses four-hit shutout for Panthers

By Dick Sparrer

Westmont and Del Mar both needed a win when they collided last week... but for different reasons.

The Warriors needed a victory to avoid a possible last-place finish in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League. And the Dons needed a win to keep their hopes alive for a berth in the Central Coast Section playoffs.

But they were playing each other in the league game last Wednesday, so both teams certainly couldn't win, even though they valiantly tried.

The clubs were locked in a 10-10 tie after seven innings, but it was Westmont pulling out a thrilling 16-15 victory to avoid the Mt. Hamilton cellar.

Actually, there was plenty to be decided in the final week of the Mt. Hamilton Division season.

Valley Christian would beat Oak Grove to clinch first place, and Leland would beat Oak Grove to climb into second.

Santa Teresa won twice, and Del Mar lost twice to create a tie for fourth place and the league's final CCS playoff berth, and Westmont won a pair of games to finish three games ahead of last-place Pioneer.

The Warriors had sixth place locked up before facing Pioneer on Friday, and all because of an exciting come-from-behind win over Del Mar two days earlier.

Del Mar opened up a 5-0 lead in the second inning and held a commanding 8-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth.

The Warriors picked up just one run in the fifth, but they rallied for seven in the home half of the sixth to tie the game, 8-8.

Del Mar scored twice in the seventh, but the Warriors matched the two runs to send the game into extra innings. The Dons rallied for five in the top of the eighth, but Westmont miraculously fought back for six in the bottom of the frame to claim the victory.

Mike Cifelli had three singles and a triple to drive in four runs for Westmont in the win, and Colin McAvoy knocked in three runs with three hits. Seth Zajac singled twice and drove in a pair of runs for the Warriors, and Tim Wilson knocked in two runs.

Jim Brown had three hits for Westmont in the win, and Blake Barr, Mike Hilbert and Bill Stouffer slapped two each. Barr picked up the pitching win in a relief role.

David Sanfilippo singled and doubled to drive in five runs for Del Mar in the game, and Danny Oswald drove in two runs. Nick Mitchell had three hits for the Dons and Danny Bosakowski and Steven Sokoda added two apiece.

Westmont wrapped up the year with a 10-6 win over Pioneer on Friday. Tony LaVista went the distance to pick up the pitching win for the Warriors. The 6-foot-2-inch junior righthander struck out eight in the win, his third in five decisions.

Sean Felder had two hits to drive in three runs for the Warriors, and Cifelli and Kyle Collins had two hits each. Zajac drove in a couple of runs.

Westmont wrapped up the league season with a 6-12 record. The Warriors were 9-15 for the year.

Del Mar dropped a tough 16-3 decision to Santa Teresa last week to finish the league season 9-9, and tied with the Saints for fourth. The Dons,14-15 for the year, still managed to gain a CCS spot and will open the Division II playoffs against Palo Alto (16-19) May 20, 7 p.m. at. PAL Stadium.

Panthers win

Prospect, meanwhile, wrapped up the league season with a 4-0 shutout win over Silver Creek. The Panthers are 16-9 for the year and posted a 12-6 mark in the Santa Teresa Division of the BVAL.

Dave Marrs went the distance with a four-hit shutout at the Raiders, striking out 10 and walking just one. Marrs is 5-4 for the year.

Dave Hildreth ripped a two-run homer and also slapped a run-scoring single to lead the Panthers at the plate. Curtis Wills singled and doubled, and Darrell Jacks doubled in the win.

The Panthers picked up two runs in the first and two more in the second, and that was more than enough for Marrs, who tossed seven zeroes at the Raiders.

Prospect will open the CCS Division II playoffs against Burlingame (17-8) on May 20, 4 p.m., at PAL.

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