Karros Gets the Pitch to Help Patrick Henry Win, 3-2

Larry Elliott, coach of No. 9-ranked Mira Mesa High School, had a difficult decision in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday in the Marauders’ City Eastern League showdown against No. 1 Patrick Henry.

Should he walk Patrick Henry third baseman Eric Karros? Or shouldn’t he?

The situation:

Karros was batting with one of a 2-2 tie, and winning run--Keith Hay--at second base.

Elliott could either walk Karros and hope for an inning-ending double play, or pitch to the third baseman who was 0 for 3 on the day.

Elliott elected to pitch to Karros, who singled to right-center field and helped Patrick Henry defeat the Marauders, 3-2, in a the game at Henry. The Patriots are 6-0 in league, the Marauders are 4-2.

“That’s the kind of decision that coaches will kick themselves about,” said Bob Imlay, Patrick Henry coach. “I’m sure he (Elliott) thought about it, and of course now it’s easy to say he should have walked Eric. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he did.”

Said Karros: “I looked sick up there the first three times. But still I thought they might walk me. I’m glad they didn’t.”

So was Imlay, who has become used to watching his team (16-1) win this season.

“I’ve got all of those ‘we can come back’ and ‘let’s hang in there’ speeches, but right now, they’re just rotting in my closet,” Imlay said. “These kids have been playing together for three years now (they were 17-0 as junior varsity players in 1983) and they just keep winning. All I have to do is bring the equipment and put it away each night.”

Karros’ eighth-inning hit made a winner of Patriot starter Scott Middaugh, who allowed single runs to Mira Mesa in the second and fifth innings, but kept his team in the game by working out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.

Patrick Henry’s Norman Whitehead had four hits in the game and scored the tying run on Danny Martinez’s two-out bloop single to right-center in the bottom of the fifth.

In other City Eastern League action:

Morse 3, Serra 2--Serra pitcher Tim Finn had a no-hitter going into the bottom of the seventh, but came up a loser at Morse. Tony Bell led off the inning with a walk, and with one out, Hector Gil tripled him home. Duane Lager walked and stole second, giving the Tigers (1-5, 9-11) runners on second and third. First baseman Mike Richardson singled in Gil and Lager to give Morse the win. The Conquistadors are 2-4, 7-11. Point Loma 4, Madison 3--Kelly Schlager’s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth gave the Pointers (3-3, 11-5) a victory over the Warhawks (2-4, 11-7), who have lost four straight. In the City Central League:

Christian 7, Lincoln 5--The league-leading Patriots (6-0, 11-6) spotted the Hornets (3-3, 11-6-1) five runs in the top of the first inning before rallying to win at Christian. Mike Ippolito’s three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth climaxed the comeback and made a winner of reliever John Okken (7-2). Christian center fielder Bill Donley made a key play in the contest, leaping high to reach over the fence and grab Keith Mitchell’s apparent two-run home run in the sixth.

Crawford 8, Hoover 6--The Colts (4-2, 8-11) moved into sole possession of second place in the league by defeating the four-time defending league champion Cardinals (3-3, 8-9) at Crawford. Todd Armer hit a three-run homer in the first and Scott Northeimer added three hits to help the Colts.

Saint Augustine 9, San Diego 7--The Saints (2-4, 2-17-1) snapped a four-game losing streak by the defeating the Cavers (0-6, 4-15) at San Diego. Both of Saint Augustine’s league wins have come against San Diego.

In City Western League action:

Clairemont 3, Mission Bay 2--The Chiefs (5-1, 14-6) scored three times in the bottom of the seventh to defeat the third-ranked Buccaneers (4-2, 17-4) and move into sole possesion of first place in the league. After Reggie Leslie’s sacrifice fly scored Orlando Henry to tie the game, 2-2, Robert Lovado hit a two-out double off John Hemmerly (8-2) to set up the winning score. Lovado moved to third on an error and then scored when Rich Viles booted Robert Cummings’ two-out grounder. Leslie, Clairemont’s third pitcher, picked up the win to improve his record to 8-3.

University 6, University City 3--Mike Hillerman (5-2) and Troy Kent combined on a six-hitter and the Dons (3-3, 12-8) scored four times in the third inning to defeat the Centurions (4-2, 10-10) at University City. John Philpott went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and Dave Mudd had two hits and two RBIs to lead University’s eight-hit attack. The loss dropped University City into a second-place tie with Mission Bay.

La Jolla 6, Kearny 1--The Vikings (1-5, 1-16) broke a 16-game losing streak and won for the first time this season defeating the Komets (1-5, 8-9) at La Jolla.

In the Grossmont League:

Grossmont 4, El Cajon 3--Jay Butko hit a solo home run in the first inning and the Foothillers (5-5, 9-10) added three more in the fifth before holding off the Braves (2-8, 3-12) at Grossmont. Lance Dickson weathered a two-run El Cajon rally in the seventh to get the complete-game victory.

Helix 4, El Capitan 2--The Highlanders (6-4, 13-7) scored three runs in the sixth to defeat the Vaqueros (3-7, 5-14) at Helix. Tim Neal drove in the winning run with a double. Curtis Canfield and Kevin Gallup hit home runs for El Capitan. Mount Miguel 9, Monte Vista 5--A three-run homer by Mark Melanese was the big hit in the Matadors’ five-run sixth inning at Monte Vista. Robert Cannon added a solo homer for Mount Miguel (3-7, 6-13). Melvin McFarlin hit a two-run homer for the Monarchs (2-8, 5-13).