Big Games : Bel-Air Prep at Newbridge

The Bel-Air Prep Bruins, 3-4 overall and 1-1 in the Westside League at the start of the week, will travel to Newbridge to take on the Voyagers (3-2 and 3-0) at 2:30 p.m. Friday .

Bel-Air Coach Rick Weber will need better pitching against Newbridge than he got the last time the teams met. In that game, one of the stranger ones of the season, Newbridge won 13-11. The Voyagers took advantage of 24 walks issued by the Bruin pitchers and had just two hits.

Since that walkfest, Bel-Air freshman Sean Lewis has thrown 11 shutout innings and has clubbed three home runs in the last three games. The Bruins also boast the league’s leading hitter in Alex Szukenko, who is batting .750.

Newbridge Coach Bill Ruehl looks for a tougher game from Bel-Air Prep now that the basketball season is over. The first meeting was the first baseball game for many Bruins who were on the basketball team.

Chaminade at Daniel Murphy

Daniel Murphy plays host to Chaminade in Santa Fe League action at 3 p.m. Tuesday .

Murphy, 3-11 overall and 1-2 in league play, is still in the hunt for a playoff berth. Murphy Coach George Vranau said that the game against first-place Chaminade, (8-2 and 3-0) will be a pivotal step.

Vranau said that Chaminade is solid and disciplined and has excellent pitching. “They can score runs without the other team giving any runs away,” he said. “They have a potent offense.”

Vranau knows he will get a strong effort from his players on defense but said that the offense is another story. The Nobles were batting .220 at the start of the week and did not have a home run.

Top performances for the Nobles are being turned in by freshman pitcher John Sacchi, who had a 2.80 ERA and has been hitting well, and by sophomore Peter Vandenberg with a .321 batting average.

Buckley at Crossroads

Crossroads, 3-9 in pre-league competition, will begin defending its Delphic League title at home against Buckley (5-3-1) at 7 p.m. Friday . The Roadrunners have played strong, higher-division teams such as Venice, University and perennial 1-A power Chaminade to prepare for league play.

This year Crossroads has only two seniors, and inexperience accounts for its poor pre-league record and some close losses, Coach Chuck Ice said.

He said that good defense should be the cornerstone of this year’s team once again but that his team has been inconsistent on defense. However, he said that he expects his defense and team hitting to improve dramatically.

The pitching staff is anchored by junior left-hander Mike LeBuffe, who is 2-3 with a 2.59 ERA.