Simi Valley Extends Marmonte Win Streak to 21 : HIGH SCHOOL HIGHLIGHTS

The bats of Steve Sharts and Joe Gallegos enabled Simi Valley to take a step closer toward its second consecutive Marmonte League title Friday in a 9-7 win over Camarillo at Simi Valley.

In running a league winning streak that spans three years to 21 games, Simi Valley (19-2, 8-0) needs two wins in its last four games to clinch the championship. Second-place Westlake is 4-2-1 in league and Channel Islands fell to 5-3 after losing at Thousand Oaks. Camarillo is 5-14 and 2-6 in league.

Gallegos broke a 7-7 tie with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth. Sharts broke Simi Valley’s single-season home-run record of eight by hitting a pair of solo home runs--his ninth and 10th. Sharts was not as proficient on the mound, however. He allowed eight hits and seven runs (three earned) before giving way to Mike Laker in the sixth.

“Mike Laker was outstanding,” Simi Valley Coach Mike Scyphers said after watching his reliever work his way out of trouble to pick up his second win in three decisions.

Laker got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth by getting two ground outs, then pitched out of a one-out, second-and-third situation in the seventh with a strikeout and a soft liner.

BASEBALL

Chris Spears struck out two batters with the bases loaded in the seventh inning to pick up the save for Crespi in the first game of a nonleague doubleheader against St. Bernard. In the second game, Spears struck out the batter who represented the tying run in the seventh inning as Crespi swept St. Bernard, 9-8, 11-8. Spears had 10 strikeouts in the second game. Paul Fell had three hits and seven runs batted in, Joe Testa had five hits and three RBIs and Kenny Franco had three hits and three RBIs for Crespi (14-3-1). St. Bernard is the first-ranked team in the Southern Section 1-A Division.

Kris Kaelin’s grand slam capped a five-run fifth inning for Thousand Oaks in a 12-8 win over Channel Islands in a Marmonte League game. Steve Sisco added three hits, including a home run, and Joe Sturges had two hits for Thousand Oaks (5-13, 2-6 in league).

Three Saugus pitchers combined for a three-hit shutout in a 9-0, Golden League win over visiting Burroughs (Ridgecrest). The win, coupled with Canyon’s victory over Antelope Valley, kept Saugus and Canyon tied for first place with 7-2 league records.

Starter Steve Risinger had to leave the game after hurting his ankle while stealing second base in the first inning. Mike Johnson pitched four innings of one-hit ball to pick up his first victory of the season. Rob Davis got the final six outs. Davis was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs, including a bases-loaded single in the first inning that drove in two runs. Saugus received 10 walks in the game. Seven of those runners scored.

Canyon came from behind and defeated Antelope Valley (3-6 in league) 6-4. Shortstop Gary Morgan was 3 for 4, including a two-run home run in the fourth inning. Ernie Figueroa was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Ken Sollom had 13 strikeouts for Canyon (11-6, 7-2).

Sean Sullivan pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts, no walks and didn’t allow a runner past first as Royal (8-8-1, 3-4 league) defeated Newbury Park (7-12-1, 2-5-1 league), 1-0, in a Marmonte League game. Sullivan scored the only run of the game on a bases-loaded walk to Joe Summers in the sixth inning. Sullivan reached base on a double.

Rob Kosenbader doubled in two runs and Bobby Hughes was 2 for 2 with an RBI to lead Notre Dame over St. Genevieve, 7-3, in a nonleague game at Notre Dame. John Argott had two hits and scored one run for St. Genevieve (7-8).

Gary Guy’s bases-loaded single broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh inning and gave L.A. Baptist a 3-2 victory over L.A. Lutheran in an Alpha League game. Eric Broberg had two of Lutheran’s six hits. Kirk Peterson and Mark Nix both singled and scored on errors for Baptist’s first two runs. Nix also scored the game winning run. Losing pitcher Paul Johnson hit a two-run home run in the first inning for Lutheran.

Agoura (4-9, 2-6) outlasted Calabasas (4-9, 3-5), 20-13, in a Frontier League slugfest at Agoura. The first three innings took more than 90 minutes, as 27 runs crossed the plate. Agoura led, 14-13. Winning pitcher Scott Heflin (2-1), who came on in the third and gave up three runs, settled down to pitch shutout ball the rest of the way.

Heflin helped his cause at the plate with a 4-for-5, 4-RBI day, hitting his first home run and scoring four runs. Doug Johns was 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs, and Mitch Meyers was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs for the winners. Jared Ricco and Kevin Menteer had three hits apiece for Calabasas. One of Ricco’s hits was a home run.

Jeff Cirillo was 3 for 6 including a triple and a home run for Providence (13-5-1, 3-1) in a 14-0, Delphic League victory over Buckley (0-4). Cirillo also had five RBIs for a total of 41 for the season. Teammate Adam Grant was 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Providence pitcher Victor Salazar went seven innings, allowing two hits and had nine strikeouts and three walks.

Moorpark got 12 hits and received 11 walks in an 18-0 rout of Oak Park in a Tri-Valley League game. David Romero was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs, and Frank Fernandez was 3 for 5 with 2 RBIs for Moorpark. . . . Brent Moss was 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs, and Ryan McMullen was 4 for 5, including a home run, with 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored for Rio Mesa in a 12-6 win over Buena in a Channel League game at Buena.

Oakwood pitcher Steve Sokoff had a no-hitter for 5 innings before giving up a single in a 12-0 win over Yeshiva in a Liberty League game. Sokoff settled for a one-hitter. The game was called after six innings because Oakwood was ahead by more than 10 runs. Oakwood’s Adam Mehr was 3 for 3, including a double and a triple with 3 RBIs. Scott Marshall, David Fond and Matt Cramer had two hits each for Oakwood (6-1, 4-0 in league).

Aaron Rudelson was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs to lead Highland Hall over Newbridge, 16-6, in a Westside League game. Takeshi Suesada, Wes Parrish, Sage Kibbee and Seth Ernsdorf each had two hits for Highland Hall (8-5, 3-0 in league). Highland Hall was successful on 12 of 13 stolen base attempts and has stolen a school-record 109 bases.

TRACK

David Sals and Ricky Flowers won two events each to lead San Fernando (3-2) to a 70-50, Mid-Valley League win over Birmingham. Sals’ victories came in the 100-meter dash (11.0) and the 220 yards (22.6), while Flowers came in first in the triple jump (41-9 3/4) and the long jump (22-9). San Fernando’s Todd Smith won the high jump (6-2).

Chris Allen won three events and ran a leg for the winning mile-relay team (3:40.5) for North Hollywood (2-2) in a 60-17 rout of Grant in a East Valley League meet.

Terrell Smith won the 110-high hurdles in 14.6 to lead Granada Hills (2-3) to a 70-47 win over Monroe in a Mid-Valley League meet.

Steve Espo won the 100 meters (11.0), 220 yards (23.1) and was part of the 440- (45.6) and mile-relay (3:41.0) teams as Poly (6-0, 4-0 in league) defeated Verdugo Hills (2-2), 87-40, in its final East Valley League dual meet. Espo won the 100 meters (11.0), 220 yards (23.1) and was part of the 440- (45.6) and mile-relay (3:41.0) teams. Poly’s Jeff La Monica won both the long jump (19-9 1/2) and the pole vault (13-0). Poly’s Mike Ornelas won the high jump (6-4).