The Campbell Reporter

Sports

Warriors bounce back to knock off Pioneer

By Kevin Sparrer

Bouncing back from a tough loss can be one of the most difficult things to do in sports, but Westmont's baseball team did it last week--and the Warriors bounced back with a vengeance.

Westmont had just two hits in a 7-0 loss to Pioneer on March 27, but two days later the Warriors faced the Mustangs again and downed Pioneer 5-2.

The Warriors ripped eight hits, with Cannon Bernarding and Chuck Mortenson leading the way.

Bernarding knocked three base hits in the win and scored two of the seven runs for Westmont. He also drove in one.

Mortenson also hit the ball well for the Warriors with two hits and one run scored.

The biggest inning for Westmont came in the top of the fifth when the Warriors scored three times. Bernarding led off the inning with a base knock, and after a fly out to right for the first out of the inning, Mortenson belted a single that moved Bernarding to third.

Chase Volgenau reached first on an error by the Mustang shortstop, allowing Bernarding to score. Victor Rasor-Thompson then roped a single to score Mortenson. Kyle McDonald smashed a single to bring in Rasor-Thompson before the Mustangs then turned a double play to end the inning.

Rasor-Thompson and McDonald each had hits and drove in runs, and David Messer singled and scored a run for the Warriors. Volgenau went hitless, but he did score a run and dropped down a sacrifice bunt.

On the defensive side, it was McDonald who was dealing on the mound. McDonald allowed only four hits and struck out nine, including three consecutive Ks in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.

Westmont's other two runs came in the top of the third when, with one out, Messer knocked a base hit. He went to second on a ground ball to the shortstop that resulted in the second out of the inning at first. Bernarding reached first on an error that scored Messer. Kyle Belshaw drew a walk to put two runners on, and Mortenson reached first on an error by the Pioneer catcher, who threw the ball away after a dropped third strike. Bernarding scored on the error.

In the first game of the week the Warriors struggled to hit the ball against the strong Pioneer tosser, Garrett Lewis. Bernarding and Belshaw had the only two hits for Westmont.

Westmont is now 4-6 in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League and 4-9 overall. The Warriors were to play host to Willow Glen on April 3 and will head to the home of the Rams on April 5 for the second game of the series. Game time is 3:30 p.m.

In Santa Teresa Division play last week, Del Mar lost twice to division leader Branham, falling 10-1 to open the week and losing 9-0 on Friday. The two losses dropped the Dons to 3-6-1 in division play and to 4-6-1 for the year.

The Dons and Bruins were locked in a scoreless tie for four innings on Wednesday before Branham broke the game open with five runs in the top of the fifth. The Dons got a run back in the home half of the inning, but the Bruins added four more in the sixth and rolled from there to the victory.

Senior Brandon Castillo led a six-hit Del Mar offensive effort with a single and a double.

Two days later, the Bruins jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the first and five more in the third. They coasted from there to their 10th straight league victory.

The Dons had just three hits in the game, and senior Nick Palermo had all three of them.

Del Mar faces Sobrato in two games this week. They were to head to Morgan Hill on April 3, and they're home against Sobrato on April 5, 3:30 p.m.

The Dons open play in the Salinas-Palma Tournament this weekend, opening against Salinas on April 7, 1:30 p.m., before facing Watsonville on April 9, 2 p.m.

Prospect, meanwhile, opened play in the Cupertino Lions Tournament last week, dropping their first game 9-4 to Homestead at San Jose's PAL Stadium.

Senior Justin Thomas knocked one out of the park, but his solo homer wasn't enough for the Panthers, who had just four hits against the Mustangs.

Homestead scored a run in the second to take the early lead, but Prospect tied it in the third, then jumped in front 4-1 with three in the fourth. The Mustangs, though, picked up single runs in the fourth and fifth, then took over the game with a six-run sixth.

The Panthers were to continue play in the tourney on April 2 against Monta Vista to start a busy week. They were to visit Branham on April 3 and meet Mitty on April 4 at PAL before hosting Branham on April 5, 3:30 p.m.

The Panthers were to play the unbeaten Bruins in a pair of league games this week after splitting two in Santa Teresa action with Evergreen Valley last week.

Prospect lost 7-2 to the Cougars, but came back Friday to win 8-6. Nick Kinder was the winning pitcher for the Panthers, and Alex Juull knocked in a pair of runs.

Prospect is now 4-6 in division play and 5-7 overall.