Poly Soars Sky High in 9-3 Victory

Sylmar High’s Shawn Fontenot expected to see some familiar faces when he and a few teammates took advantage of a day off and headed down the Golden State Freeway to watch Poly play Fairfax on Wednesday.

But when Fontenot & Co. arrived, they saw an unexpected face in the starting lineup. Fairfax pitcher Sky Lasowitz, whom Sylmar had defeated Monday afternoon, was making another start for the Lions.

On a day’s rest.

“He’s got to be hurting,” Fontenot said. “I sure wouldn’t want to have to do that.”

Neither did Lasowitz, who was pressed into service when three other Fairfax starters were declared academically ineligible last week.

In the first inning, Sky was already falling. The senior right-hander threw 31 pitches and Poly scored five runs en route to a 9-3 East Valley League win at Poly.

“At least Easter is coming up,” said Lasowitz (4-3), who pitched a complete game. “So maybe I can get some rest then.”

Poly--ranked No. 1 in The Times Valley poll--ran its record to 11-0. Fairfax (6-4), which entered the week in a second-place tie with Sylmar, has lost two straight.

Poly’s first-inning parade started with a single to right by Joey Speakes and a walk to Luis Porres. Both runners scored on Danny Gil’s double to left. After Gil was thrown out at third on Bill Chavez’s infield grounder, Ali Aguilar walked. Designated-hitter Luis Garcia then singled home Chavez for a 3-0 lead, with Aguilar taking third.

Rodrigo Fuentes’ ground ball scored Aguilar from third and Hans Hekking singled home Garcia with Poly’s final run of the inning.

The first-inning outburst was more than enough support for junior left-hander Greg Nealon (6-0), who blanked Fairfax over five innings on four hits. He struck out seven and walked one.