Prep Baseball : It Turns Out to Be Upsetting for Servite as Mater Dei Rallies for 10-6 Win

Mater Dei High School, hailed as the country’s top prep baseball team by two national publications, invariably can expect its remaining opponents to dedicate themselves to one mission--upsetting the Monarchs.

For two innings Wednesday, the prospect of beating Mater Dei appeared promising for rival Servite, which entered the game with a 6-5 record Angelus League record.

Despite matching inexperienced sophomore Jim Ferguson against Jon Hulshof--considered by many to be Orange County’s finest pitching prospect--the Friars gained an 4-2 lead after two innings. And Hulshof was on the verge of being removed from the game.

In the third inning, however, the Monarchs regained their presence by scoring six runs, and went on to gain a 10-6 victory.

Mater Dei began the third with a single and four walks, followed by a grand slam by right fielder Rich Albert. By the time the inning ended, the Monarchs had taken an 8-4 lead.

In the most recent polls released by USA Today and Collegian Baseball magazine, Mater Dei (19-1 overall, 11-1 in league) was ranked No. 1 in the nation. Still, neither Mater Dei’s or Servite’s coach placed much creedence in the rankings.

“I don’t think you can rank a team nationally.” said Bob Ickes, Monarch coach. “I think they were going on the fact that we’re a California team, and maybe it’s time for a California team to be number one--I don’t know.”

Said Tom Walbrun, Servite coach: “I think it’s a joke. I think it’s tough enough trying to pick the number one team in the county, much less the nation.”

Regardless, Mater Dei’s ranking surely had an effect on Ferguson, who was starting in only his second varsity game.

He struggled a bit in the first inning, but after Servite scored four runs in first, he seemed to settle down in the second. He allowed only one run in the second via a throwing error.

Ferguson, though, fell victim to his lack of control and the Mater Dei powerhouse in the third.

After yielding a leadoff single, Ferguson walked the next four batters. With no outs, the Monarchs had tied the score, 4-4, and had the bases loaded. Walbrun replaced his sophomore starter with Chris Ulmer, who gave up the grand slam to Albert.

Walbrun admitting some of Ferguson’s problems stemmed from the pressure of facing America’s top-rated team. But the coach also blamed the umpires.

“I don’t like to complain about umpires,” he said, “but we were getting squeezed out there. When you see the catcher knows a call is missing, and the kids see that out in the field, it makes it tough.

“But, when you go against a top-rated team, they get the marginal calls. That’s the way it goes. Just like the pros. The established pitcher gets the calls and the rookie has to prove himself.”

Albert, a senior out fielder who hits in the eighth spot, had been in a slump until Wednesday. In addition to his second home run of the season, Albert had an RBI double and walk, finishing the day 2 for 3 with five RBIs and three runs scored. His only out was a fly ball that came within a few feet shy of another home run.

“I think overall this is my best game (ever),” Albert said.

“I was just waiting on the fastball, and he threw me a fat one. I guess I’m coming back at the right time.”

Servite’s only bright spot after the third innning came when designated hitter Dave Houk hit a solo home run, his first of the season.