San Diego Prep Baseball : Despite Inexperience, Madison Keeps on Winning, 6-3

Few people expected the Madison High School baseball team to do well this spring. After all, the Warhawks graduated most of the key players from last year’s squad, which finished second in the City Eastern League.

But the inexperienced Hawks have soared thus far. They improved their overall record to 7-1 Tuesday afternoon by beating Clairemont, 6-3, in a nonleague game at Madison.

“I’m tickled to death with the way we’re doing,” Madison Coach Bob Roeder said. “This isn’t a great team, it doesn’t have a lot of great talent, but they’re busting their tails. They’re learning all the time.”

The Warhawks held a 3-0 lead Tuesday, only to see the Chieftains (5-4) rally to tie the score at 3-3 in the top of the fifth inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Alan Barsoom of Madison broke the tie with a sacrifice fly that drove in Dennis Legenza. Two batters later, James Moliere brought home two more runs with a double to right-center field.

David Riddle went the route to pick up the win for Madison.

In other nonleague games:

University City 5, St. Augustine 4--Mike Fentress singled home Eric Bridge with the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Centurions their third win against six losses. Bridge, who picked up the win in relief, and Nate Hooper combined for 16 strikeouts to help University City.

Herminston 13, Ramona 11--The Bulldogs committed 13 errors, giving visiting Herminston 11 unearned runs and the victory. Ramona, meanwhile, rapped out 10 hits, including home runs by Pete Cavallo and Frankie Romero.

Kearny 7, Morse 5--Perry Moss belted a home run and a triple and Jeff Moody pitched a complete game to lead the Komets to their seventh win in eight games. Playing at Morse, the Komets took a 4-1 lead in the top of the second, then held on as the Tigers rallied. Moss hit a three-run homer in the top of the second, while teammate Alan Ford was 3 for 3 with two RBIs.

Orange Glen 10, Christian 2--Arcadio Naranjo had two hits and three RBIs, including the game-winner in fourth inning, as Orange Glen drubbed the visiting Patriots. Naranjo was backed by Marc Anthony and Michael Dean, who had two hits apiece. Scott Harper got the win for Orange Glen (3-4-1) and Alex Borboa picked up the save.

In the Metro League:

Sweetwater 7, Hilltop 4--George Gallardo pitched a complete game and also had two hits for the Red Devils, as they beat the visiting Lancers in the league opener for both teams. Sweetwater (6-3 overall) scored five runs in the second inning. Eddie Mendoza and Steve Contreras each hit two-run singles to key the uprising.

Bonita Vista 10, Coronado 6--David Woodhouse and Scott Sachrison drove in runs during an eight-run first-inning outburst that carried the Barons past the Islanders in the league opener for both teams at Bonita Vista. Coronado pitchers walked five and forced in four runs during the Barons’ rally. Kenny Guytun had two hits and two RBIs and John Nelson extended his hitting streak to nine games to help Bonita Vista, which improved to 5-4 overall. Coronado fell to 3-2.

Castle Park 6, Marian 5 (8 innings)--Jaime Vargas’ third-hit of the game, a two-out single to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning, scored pinch-runner Kevin Ryan and gave the Trojans the win over the Crusaders. Marian (2-2-1 overall, 0-1 in league) had rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game. Kip Korzep and Jose Palos each had two hits and an RBI to help Castle Park improve to 4-4-1 overall, 1-0 in league.

Mar Vista 13, Southwest 4--The Mariners (7-2, 1-0) scored eight runs in the first three innings, then cruised to victory over the visiting Raiders. Gus Carros had a two-run home run in the third inning for Mar Vista, while David Vega went 3 for 3 and stole two bases.

Montgomery 1, Chula Vista 1 (9 innings, tie)--Clemente Corona doubled and scored on a two-out wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning and that was it as the two teams tied in their league opener at Montgomery. Eduardo Torres, Brian Mara and Ramiro Ramirez combined to hold Chula Vista to five hits and Brian Murphy pitched seven strong innings for the Spartans. Montgomery is now 6-1-1 overall.

In the Grossmont League:

Valhalla 6, Granite Hills 4--Tony Lozinski hit a three-run home run with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to give the Norsemen the victory and help them remain undefeated (7-0, 2-0 in league). Granite Hills (6-2, 1-1) jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings but Valhalla rallied for three runs in the fourth to set up Lozinski’s game-winner. Mark Warren got the victory for the Norsemen.

Grossmont 4, El Cajon 3--A two-run home run by Chris Archambault keyed the Foothillers’ victory at El Cajon. David Richards, who relieved starter Lance Dickson in the fourth inning, picked up the win for Grossmont (5-3, 2-0). The Braves fell to 1-1 in league play and 2-6 overall.

Helix 17, El Capitan 6--The visiting Highlanders scored in every inning but the fifth to defeat the Vaqueros at El Capitan. Jackie Schniepp and Tony Nobiensky each had four hits and drove in three runs to help Neil Hall pick up the win. El Capitan got a pair of home runs from Ron Peeler and one each from Dave Nowlan and Scott Freeman.

Monte Vista 17, Mount Miguel 2--The Matadors (1-7, 0-2 in league) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on Ronnie Jaecks’ single in the first inning, but it was all downhill from there as the Monarchs piled up 10 hits to post the win at Mount Miguel. Harry Henderson and Chas Bauer each drove in a pair of runs during a six-run third inning that broke the game open and helped Monte Vista improve its record to 1-1 in league play.

In the Avocado League:

El Camino 6, Escondido 1--Ernie Spears ripped two triples and drove in three runs while teammate Casey Malauulu added two hits and two RBIs to pace the Wildcats over the visiting Cougars. Al Kapitanski went the route on the mound for El Camino (3-3, 1-0). For Escondido (1-7, 0-1), Randy Ford and Jason Hobbs both had two hits.

San Pasqual 4, Oceanside 3--Todd Brose hit a two-run single to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning, driving in what proved to be the winning run for the Eagles (1-0, 5-1). San Pasqual entered the fourth trailing 2-1, but Dave Clayton came home on an infield grounder by Scott Norman, tying the score, then both Noman and Chris Portas scored on Brose’s hit. Greg Bratten pitched the entire game for San Pasqal, improving his record to 2-0.

In the Palomar League:

Mount Carmel 14, Torrey Pines 3--The Sundevils combined 11 hits with 5 Falcon errors to win the league opener for both teams at Mount Carmel. Miah Bradbury paced Mount Carmel (5-3 overall) with two hits and four RBIs, while Danny Rumsey added three RBIs Scott Happ had three hits. Pete Schiesser pitched into the fifth inning and got the win for the Sundevils. Happ closed out the game and picked up the save.

Fallbrook 6, San Dieguito 2--Mark Ungerbiller pitched a complete game, scattering five hits and striking out eight, as the Warriors beat the Mustangs at San Dieguito. Richie Hewlit led Fallbrook (4-3, 1-0) with two hits and an RBI. San Dieguito fell to 0-1 in league play and 2-2 overall.

Vista 4, Poway 3--The Panthers improved to 5-3 overall by winning their league opener at home, while the Titans fell to 6-3.