San Diego Prep Baseball : Mossman Steals a Sign, Hilltop Seals a Victory

A little spying has helped lift Hilltop High School into first place in the Metro-South Bay League.

Against league rival Chula Vista Friday afternoon, Hilltop had the bases loaded, one out in the second inning, with left fielder Henry Negrete at the plate. The runner on second base, David Mossman, noticed that Spartan catcher Louis Peraza had signaled for pitcher Victor Ocegueda to throw a curve ball. Mossman relayed the information to Negrete with a sleight of the hand.

Negrete used the data well. He hit Oceguerda’s curve into left field for a two-run single, which led the Lancers to a 4-1 win over the Spartans at Hilltop. The win puts Hilltop in first place in the South Bay League with a 7-2 record, 12-8 overall. Chula Vista is 6-2-1, 9-10-1.

“We have certain signals we used that aren’t too obvious,” Mossman said. “Henry picked ‘em up-- he was paying attention. We played with him (Ocegueda) in Pony League for two years. We know what he throws and where he throws it. We had an advantage.”

Said Negrete, who added a third RBI with a sixth-inning sacrifice fly: “I knew where his curve would break. I just hit it.”

The Spartans managed only four hits against Lancer left-hander Gary Fessia (8-2), who went the distance. It was the fifth time in the last six games that Hilltop has received a complete game. Ocegueda (4-2), who worked six innings, was the loser.

Chula Vista had its share of opportunities to score more than one run. In the fourth inning with one out, Jorge Mora singled and after Darren Pudgil flew out, Randy Smith hit a double past third baseman Willy Gaytan. That put tying runs on in scoring position, but Fessia struck out Oscar DeLeon to end the inning.

The Spartans had the tying runs on in the fifth as well. Pinch-hitter Bob Bleisch drew a one-out walk, and Louis Peraza followed with a single to left center. Pereza moved to second when pinch-runner Robert Gambala beat a throw to third. Gil Caruzales’ sacrifice fly made it 2-1, but that was the end of the Chula Vista offense.

A bases-empty home run by Tyler Ackerson in the bottom of the fifth put the Lancers up by two.

Fessia was faced with a bases-loaded situation in the sixth. Shortstop Tim Vincej bobbled Pudgil’s one-out grounder, then Smith drew a walk. After DeLeon flied to center, Edgar Lim singled to load the bases. However, pinch-hitter Conan Murphy popped up to end the rally. Fessia had no trouble in the seventh, retiring the side.

“Right in the middle of the game I got tired,” Fessia said. “I was on my way out of there for a while. But I started throwing harder in the last couple of innings.”

Thanks mainly to Fessia’s throwing this season, the Lancers find themselves in first place.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been in first Hilltop said John Baumgarten, the coach. “These guys (Chula Vista) were in first all last year. I don’t know how long we’ll be there.”

In other Metro League games:

Bonita Vista 8, Southwest 3--David Woodhouse drove in two runs, giving him 30 RBIs this season, to pace the Barons (7-2, 11-8) at Southwest. Randy Abshier (6-0) got the win, which enabled the Barons to keep pace with Mar Vista.

Mar Vista 7, Sweetwater 6--David Vega’s two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh put the eighth-ranked Mariners in a first-place tie with Bonita Vista. Roberto Cueva (3-1) was the winning pitcher for Mar Vista. The Red Devils are (5-4, 7-12).

Montgomery 2, Castle Park 1--Eddie Johnson’s run-scoring triple in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie. Clemente Corona was the winner for the Aztecs (3-4-2, 10-7-2), and led off the game with a home run. The Trojans fall to 3-6, 7-12-1.

CITY EASTERN LEAGUE Mira Mesa 12, Serra 3--At Serra, Mike Eicher had three hits and drove in five runs for the Marauders (5-2, 15-6). Willie Morris, back on the mound after missing two weeks with an injury, was the winning pitcher.

CITY CENTRAL LEAGUE Hoover 12, San Diego 3--The Cardinals (4-3, 9-9) scored three times in each of the first three innings to rout the Cavers (0-7, 4-16). Ty Murphy had four hits and two RBIs for Hoover, and Sam Aguirre drove in three runs. Mark Gorence added a solo homer.

Lincoln 8, Saint Augustine 7--Steve Taylor’s three-run homer in the third inning led the Hornets (4-3, 12-6-1) to a win at Lincoln. Taylor also got the final three outs to get a save, Lamont Horne had two RBIs for the Hornets, who are tied for second place with Hoover.

CITY WESTERN LEAGUE Clairemont 17, Kearny 3--The Chiefs (6-1, 15-6) retained their one-game lead in the West with a 20-hit assault on the Komets. Ricky Doane, Jeff Sturch, Brett McFeely and Robert Lovato all had four hits apiece for Clairemont. Reggie Leslie, Lovato and Doane had three RBIs each.

Mission Bay 7, University City 3--The second-ranked Buccaneers (5-2, 15-6) received an 11-strikeout performance from John Hemmerly (9-1), who pitched a complete game. Chris Butler drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a double. The Centurions fall to 4-3, 10-11.

PALOMAR LEAGUE Poway 6, Fallbrook 4--The Titans (4-5, 12-9) rallied from a 4-2 deficit to beat the Warriors at Poway. Joe Bellezzo’s two-run home run in the third inning tied the game at 4-4. Dennis Carhart’s RBI single in the sixth was the game-winning hit.

Torrey Pines 7, San Dieguito 1--Dave Painter and Bob Vogelpohl had two hits and two RBIs apiece for the Falcons (5-4, 10-11) at Del Mar. Scott Kennedy was the winner, evening his record to 4-4.

Vista 3, Orange Glen 1--Reliever Clint Estremo struck out Mark Lopez with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh to preserve Vista’s victory. Frank Wyant (4-1) was the starting pitcher, and worked 6 innings, striking out nine.

GROSSMONT LEAGUE Helix 11, Valhalla 9--At Helix, Javier Castaneda’s triple broke a 9-9 tie and moved the Highlanders (7-4, 14-7) to within a half-game of the second-place Norsemen. Winning pitcher Larry Simms hit a two-run homer for Helix, and Tim Quinn went 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Valhalla is 7-3, 15-4).

Grossmont 8, Monte Vista 1--About the only player the Foothillers needed against the Monarchs (2-9, 5-14) was Dave Richards. He pitched a complete game, struck out 11 and hit a first-inning grand slam. Grossmont is 6-5, 10-10.

Mount Miguel 7, Santana 6--In a major upset, Rick Wurts’ two-run single in the seventh pushed the Matadors (4-7, 7-13) past the sixth-ranked Sultans (7-3, 14-6). Bobby Sanchez and Jeff Barry had three hits apiece for Santana. El Capitan 7, El Cajon 3--Rob Arnold (2-1) struck out 10 and went all the way for the Vaqueros (4-7, 6-14). Brad Burton had three hits and two RBIs for El Capitan.