HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL : Montclair Prep Makes Light Work of Aquinas

When Montclair Prep failed to score after loading the bases with no outs in the first inning of its first-round playoff game against Aquinas on Friday, Coach Jeff Pressman was less than pleased.

“Not happy at all,” Pressman said.

A few innings later, Pressman got about all he could want and then some, as the Mounties--seeded No. 1 in the Small Schools Large Division--buried Aquinas, 18-3, at Encino Colt Field. In the second round on Tuesday, Montclair Prep (21-4) plays Fillmore, which defeated Bishop on Friday, 9-1.

Jeff Light hit a three-run home run in the second and a solo shot in the sixth to back the pitching of senior right-hander Scott Hauser (9-0).

Frank Charles hit his third grand slam of the year in the sixth and Light followed with his solo blast, giving Montclair Prep an eight-run inning.

3-A PLAYOFFS

Righetti 10, Hart 5--Righetti battered three Hart pitchers for nine hits and coasted to the win at Righetti in the first-round playoff game. Righetti chased Hart starter David Lee (10-3) in the second inning, building a 6-1 lead.

Hart trailed, 7-5, after Jim Bonds hit a solo home run in the top of the sixth, but Righetti scored three off Bonds in the bottom of the inning to put the game out of reach.

1-A PLAYOFFS

Bell-Jeff 6, Sierra Vista 5--Bell-Jeff rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh for the win in a wild-card playoff game. After Sierra Vista scored two runs in the top of the seventh and took a 5-3 lead. After Bell-Jeff (12-13) tied the game, Alex Vucerevic singled home Paul Inquiero from second with the winning run.

Bell-Jeff was down to its last out before consecutive doubles by Tom Ressler and Mike Thomson made the score 5-4. Thomson scored the tying run when Inquiero hit a ball between short and third and Sierra Vista shortstop Alex Villar kicked it into left.

Bell-Jeff plays Tuesday against Valley Christian, which had a bye.