Baseball: Saugus falling short of expectations

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The so-called baseball renaissance that’s supposed to be going on at Saugus this spring seems to be missing in action. That may sound a little harsh, but following the Centurions’ 12-1 loss to Hart on Friday afternoon, it appears Saugus -- much like Canyon and West Ranch -- will be sitting on the outside of the Foothill League title race.

I think the Saugus-as-a-title-contender theory was a conspiracy set up by Valencia and Hart supporters. We’ve heard Saugus is the team to beat all season, but the Centurions are 0-4 against top-tier opponents -- Crespi, Alemany, Valencia and Hart -- and they haven’t done anything particularly special to warrant being a legitimate challenger for one of the toughest-to-win league crowns in the Southland.

And even though Saugus was pretty pumped over its shellacking of West Ranch on Wednesday, I knew it would hit a talespin once Mike Montgomery whipped a couple Division I-caliber fastballs past them. Plus, when has a victory over West Ranch ever signaled a turnaround? Only a victory over Hart or Valencia can buy redemption from the baseball gods.

Let’s face it, the Foothill League title race will be a two-horse race between perennial favorites Valencia and Hart. Hart’s got the pitching, Valencia’s got the hitting and Saugus is stuck with only bloated expectations. The Centurions are an above-average squad, but we’re going to have to wait at least another year before they can challenge the big dogs.

-- Austin Knoblauch