Preps HIGHLIGHTS : Bell-Jeff Runs Wild in Win : Guards Steal 11 Bases to Stay Close in Santa Fe League

Bell-Jeff High ran--and ran--and ran and had 11 stolen bases Friday to rout Daniel Murphy, 7-1, in a Santa Fe League game Friday.

The win enabled the Guards to stay a half-game behind Chaminade, which beat St. Genevieve. Chaminade is 7-1. Bell-Jeff is 7-2 (10-9 overall).

Bell-Jeff’s trademark is stealing bases. The Guards have stolen 105 in 118 attempts. On Friday, they were 11 for 13.

However, the Guards have a long way to go to set a Southern Section record. Rio Hondo Prep stole 253 bases in 1980.

Friday, steals set up six of Bell-Jeff’s seven runs. In the third, a walk and a single preceded a double steal. Then Kevin Day drove in two with a single and went on to steal second and third and score on Pete Vucurevic’s single.

In the fourth, a walk, a steal, a fielder’s choice and another walk loaded the bases. A walk forced in the run. A single, an error, a steal and a fielder’s choice accounted for another run the next inning.

Bell-Jeff scored twice in the sixth when a bunt, a single and a single by winning pitcher Eric Amrhein scored one run. With runners on second and third, a double steal, with Day scoring, finished the Guards’ scoring.

Amrhein gained his first victory of the season with four strikeouts and four walks in five innings.

Chaminade 2, St. Genevieve 1

Home runs accounted for both of Chaminade’s runs as it maintained its lead in the Santa Fe League with a win over St. Genevieve. Pablo Suarez gained his fifth win of the season without a loss. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed three hits.

Chaminade is 7-1 in the league and 12-6 for the season. St. Genevieve is 6-2 in the league.

With St. Genevieve leading 1-0, catcher Jerry Siciliano homered in the fourth to tie the game. Then designated-hitter Denny Vigo had a home run in the fifth to win it for Chaminade.

Providence 4, Faith Baptist 3

A bases-loaded walk to Jeff Cirillo, also the winning pitcher, accounted for the eventual winning run as Providence won in the Delphic League. He struck out seven and walked two in a five-hitter.

Doug Ferrante drove in two runs for Providence (3-2, 10-7), singling in one in the first to lead Providence to an early lead.

After Faith Baptist (2-3, 5-7) went ahead with unearned runs in the second and fourth, Providence took the lead in the fifth. An infield grounder scored one run, and Ferrante’s second single put Providence ahead, 3-2.

In the sixth, a single and two walks loaded the bases before Cirillo walked to force in the run.

L.A. Baptist 4, L.A. Lutheran 3

L.A. Baptist (5-5, 6-10), scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to come from behind to win the Alpha League game.

After L.A. Lutheran scored two runs in the top of the ninth to go ahead, 3-1, Dan Cory tied the game with a two-run double. Mike MacDonald then doubled in Cory to win the game.

Cory, the winning pitcher, struck out 10.

Thousand Oaks 8, Chan. Islands 5

Tom Neumayr overcame a shaky start to post a complete-game victory for Thousand Oaks in a Marmonte League contest at Channel Islands.

Neumayr (3-0), a junior left-hander, allowed five runs in the first two innings but shut out the Raiders the rest of the way. Thousand Oaks tied the game in the third on Eddie Hall’s grand slam, and pushed three runs across the plate in the fifth to take the lead.

Thousand Oaks is 5-4 in league and 11-11 overall. Channel Islands fell to 1-7 in league.

Camarillo 12, Westlake 4

Camarillo (7-2, 15-7) remained half a game behind Simi Valley in the Marmonte League race after winning easily at Westlake (4-5, 10-11).

Joe Solomon (3-1) picked up the victory by shutting out the Warriors over the final 5 innings.

Jason McCarthy doubled in three runs for Camarillo, and seniors Scott Cline and Charlie Fiacco each had two hits.

San Gabriel 8, Burroughs 7

A two-run double by pinch-hitter Raul Contreras with two out in the seventh inning capped a four-run rally and lifted San Gabriel over Burroughs at home.

Chris Rizzotti homered, doubled and drove in four runs for Burroughs. Ray Rodriguez singled three times, Robbie Scott singled twice and George Manno tripled for the Indians.

San Gabriel is 5-6 in the Foothill League. Burroughs is 2-9 in league and 5-15 overall.

Calabasas 8, Santa Paula 4

Greg Ruh and Bob Lustig each had four hits in the Frontier League victory.

Ruh went 4 for 5 and drove in two runs. Lustig drove in a run, with a 4 for 4 performance. Calabasas is now 9-7-1 overall and 5-4-1 in the league.

Winning pitcher Scott Cadenhead, 4-3, struck out two and walked one.