San Diego Prep Baseball : Mar Vista in First in Metro-Mesa

Down 5-2 after four innings Tuesday, Mar Vista High School’s eighth-ranked baseball team rallied behind the hitting of David Vega and Victor Vargas to beat Sweetwater, 7-5, and take sole possession of first place in the Metro-Mesa League.

The Mariners (12-4, 4-1) trailed, 5-4, entering the seventh inning at Sweetwater (5-10, 3-2). Bill Bilbray led off the inning with a single. After Ted Maxwell was hit by a pitch, Bilbray scored on an infield error on a grounder by Vega.

Vargas then singled, sending Maxwell home with the go-ahead run. Vega scored when the next batter, Marty Sandez, hit into a fielder’s choice.

“This was a good win, especially on their field,” Mar Vista Coach Jim Goodwin said. “We feel real good about going over there and winning. Attitude-wise, this really helps us a lot.”

Manuel Mendivil went the distance for Mar Vista, improving his record to 7-1. He leads the county’s pitchers in victories. Vega had two hits, including a solo home run in the fifth, and scored three runs. Vargas added two hits and a pair of RBIs.

Elsewhere in the Metro Leagues:

Hilltop 6, Chula Vista 2--The Lancers (11-5, 3-2), paced by pitcher Brad Platt, won the game at Chula Vista, but the Spartans (6-9-1, 3-1-1) are still in first place by 1/2-game in the Metro-South Bay League. Platt pitched the entire game for Hilltop. Tyler Ackerson of the Lancers hit a three-run double which made the score 6-0 in the sixth inning.

Castle Park 7, Montgomery 3--Charley Schoneboom pitched a complete game and hit a two-run home run to lead the Trojans (7-8-1, 3-2) past the 10th-ranked Aztecs (9-4-2, 2-1-2) at Montgomery. Schoneboom’s homer came in the fifth inning and gave Castle Park a 6-2 lead.

Marian 6, Coronado 5--The Crusaders (3-8, 1-4) came out on top over the visiting Islanders (4-7-1, 0-4-1) in a battle of winless teams. Marian moved out of the Metro-South Bay League cellar with the victory.

In the Grossmont League:

Valhalla 9, Santana 4--The seventh-ranked Norsemen (12-2, 4-1) scored five times in the fifth inning to defeat the third-ranked Sultans (10-4, 4-1) at Santana and move into a first-place tie in the league. Joe Appolito singled in two runs in the fifth to put Valhalla ahead, 5-4, and Lance Pinell and Tony Lozinski followed with run-scoring singles to cap the rally. Mark Warren (6-0) pitched a complete-game four-hitter to pick up the win.

Granite Hills 8, Monte Vista 4--Damon Hansel hit a pair of two-run home runs and Dan Nerat hurled 3 innings of scoreless relief as the fourth-ranked Eagles (12-3, 4-1) beat the visiting Monarchs (4-10, 1-5) to gain a share of first place. Hansel homered in the first inning and again in third to snap a 3-3 tie.

Mount Miguel 12, El Capitan 4--The Matadors (5-9, 2-3) scored in every inning and hit five home runs to win for the fourth time in their last five games over the Vacqueros (4-11, 2-4) at El Capitan. Rick Wurts and Jason Stewart hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning and Robert Cannon and Donnie Young hit back-to-back homers in the fifth to lead Mt. Miguel, which also got a home run and three hits from Tony Dill.

Helix 6, El Cajon 2--The ninth-ranked Highlanders (10-5, 3-2) scored four times in the seventh inning to snap a 2-2 tie and beat the Braves (2-9, 1-5) at El Cajon. Jerry Oedewaldt singled to drive in one run in the seventh and Larry Sims doubled in two before Tim Quinn stole home for the second time this year to complete Helix’s winning rally.