University Makes All the Right Strides in 11-6 Win

Before this season, no University High baseball team had finished higher than fourth place in its league.

The 1985 Trojans, however, became not only the first team in the school’s history to qualify for the Southern Section playoffs, but also compiled a 12-2 record in the Sea View League to win the school’s first championship.

And Friday at University, the Trojans won their first 2-A playoff game as it eliminated Hacienda League third-place finisher, Montclair, 11-6.

Not surprisingly, University was in control of the game most of the way, relying on its two most potent weapons--its hitting attack and the pitching of senior Mark Stride.

Stride compiled a record of 8-0, had a 0.98 earned-run average, and totaled 78 strikeouts during the regular season. Against the Cavaliers, despite a rather stormy start, he pitched solidly for five innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out eight.

Initially, the Cavaliers appeared to have no problems hitting Stride. In the first inning, Dan Montes led off with a double down the left-field line, and two batters later, Derek Parks followed with a towering home run over the center-field fence. Stride walked one more hitter before ending the inning trailing, 2-0.

From that point on, however, the Trojan starting pitcher allowed just two hits and one run over the next four innings to earn the win.

The Trojans began to demonstrate how they compiled a .412 team batting average during the regular season. Six University batters came up to the plate in the second before Montclair could get the first out.

Designated hitter Tom Staff led off with the first of his two triples in the inning, and he scored when Greg Artiano followed with another triple. Steve Connor then hit a fly ball which Cavalier right fielder Jesse Guerra apparently lost in the sun, giving Connor an RBI double to tie the score.

Montclair starting pitcher Robbie Corsaro appeared to have lost his effectiveness after a first-inning line drive off the bat of University’s Jeff Baker struck him on the pitching hand. So, following the three leadoff hits in the second, Alex Arellano came on in relief.

Dan Huegy, the first batter Arellano faced, tripled to right field, scoring Connor and giving the Trojans a 3-2 lead. After Roger Wilson walked, Montclair finally got the first out in the inning when Mark Favorite grounded into a force play, Huegy scoring from third.

After University loaded the bases, Staff then hit his second triple, driving in three more runs, and Doug Pierce came in to replace Arellano. Pierce got out of the inning, but only after yielding a single to Artiano, which scored Staff and completed an eight-run, 12-batter inning.

In other 2-A action:

La Quinta 3, Mayfair 1--Despite being limited to only three hits, the second-seeded Aztecs (22-2) beat the Monsoons at La Quinta.

Steve Hunt went the distance to get the win and improve his record to 11-1. He struck out eight and scattered seven hits.

La Quinta, the Garden Grove League champion, broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third with an unearned run. With two outs, Jim Ingram drew a walk. He took second on an errant pickoff throw by losing pitcher Mark Beck, stole third and scored what turned out to be the winning run on a passed ball.

Mayfair, which began the season with nine consecutive losses, finished 7-13.

Glenn 5, Laguna Hills 1--The Eagles scored four unearned runs in the fifth inning on four Hawk errors to win at Glenn. With the score tied at 1, Glenn’s Mario Lazalde reached base on an error. The bases were loaded when the next two batters reached base on an error and an infield single. Art Rodriguez then hit a ground ball that Laguna Hills second baseman Dave Shetland threw into left field while trying to start a double play.

Glenn (15-8) scored two more runs on errors, before Jim Speer singled in the fourth run. Winning pitcher Julian Gamez struck out two.

The Hawks scored their only run in the first when Reed Ringler, who doubled to open the inning, scored on Chris Latham’s ground ball.

Mission Viejo 5, Pioneer 3--Bob Brucato pitched a four-hitter to improve his record to 10-0 as the Diablos beat the Titans at Pioneer.

Mission Viejo (17-7) broke a 3-3 tie with what proved to be the winning run in the fifth inning. Ray Reinders’ fielder’s choice ground ball drove in the run.

Brucato and David Hori led the Mission Viejo offense, as both players had two hits and an RBI.

Pioneer ended the season 16-6.

Arroyo 4, Bolsa Grande 2--Arroyo rallied from a 2-0 deficit to avert an upset and defeat the Matadors at El Monte.

The Knights got one run in the second to make it 2-1. With Junior Pena at first, Bolsa Grande center fielder Brian Howe bobbled Jody Moore’s singled to center field and Pena was able to score.

Then, in the third, Arroyo (20-3), the Mission Valley League champions, scored twice to take the lead for good. One run scored when losing pitcher Tony Beall (5-3) walked Pena with the bases loaded and the other scored on an error by Bolsa Grande shortstop Kevin Dickerson.

Bolsa Grande (10-15), the third-place representative from the Garden Grove, scored twice in the first. Rick Steele led off with a single and went to second on a single by Howe. An errant pickoff throw by winning pitcher Jeff Lamb (11-1) advanced the runners to second and third. Steele later scored on a fielder’s choice and Howe scored on a squeeze bunt by Mike Valdez.

Artesia 9, Garden Grove 3--John Hatten pitched a five-hitter and hit a three-run home run to lead host Artesia (14-9) past the Argonauts (12-11).

Ray Martinez added two hits and two RBIs for the Pioneers.

La Serna 5, Estancia 4--La Serna rallied from a 3-1 deficit after four innings to beat host Estancia.

Jim Foley (10-2) pitched a complete game in taking the loss for the Eagles, who finished the season 17-9.

John Ucker led Estancia’s offense with two hits and two RBIs.