San Diego Lions AA Baseball : Valhalla Wins as Every Pitcher Tells a Story

John Marlow, Valhalla High School School coach, liked his team’s chances when he scanned the 36th Annual Lions/Mike Morrow Invitational Baseball Tournament schedule.

Because the teams had to play five games in three days, Valhalla had an advantage with its strong pitching corps.

Marlow used five pitchers, who combined to lead the Norsemen to the AA division title, culminating with a 4-2 win over Serra in the championship game Wednesday afternoon at Hilltop.

Justin Post, who got the win, and Steve Gomez, who earned the save, limited Serra to six hits in a performance typical of the Valhalla pitchers this week.

In Valhalla’s opener Monday, Post and Scott Cummins pitched a five-hitter to help beat Kearny, 8-1. That afternoon, Gomez had a no-hitter for 6 innings and finished with a two-hitter in a 5-1 win over Orange Glen.

Tuesday, Steve Phoenix, Cummins, Post and Gomez allowed 12 hits by Hilltop in a 13-inning game won by Valhalla, 11-9.

Then Wednesday morning, Rob Sharp pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10 in a 4-0 win over Mission Bay.

“I’m pleasantly surprised that our pitchers did so well in the tournament,” Marlow said. “They pitched the way they’re capable of pitching.”

Serra committed four errors and allowed three unearned runs.

Valhalla scored twice in the first inning when Johnny Ace hit a one-out triple and Sharp drove him in with a single. Sharp eventually scored on a two-out error.

The Norsemen added two more in the fourth on two hits, a walk and a throwing error which allowed both runs to score.

Jason Arzaga was the only batter the Valhalla pitchers couldn’t control. Arzaga went 3 for 3, driving in the Conquistadors’ first run and scoring their second.

Earlier in the day, Arzaga went 4 for 4 to lead Serra to an 11-5 win over Fallbrook in a semifinal game.