San Diego Section 3-A Baseball Championship : Wild Inning Lifts Mount Carmel

Depending on which coach was analyzing Wednesday night’s San Diego Section 3-A baseball final, the game was decided either by Mount Carmel High School’s agressive baserunning or by Santana’s inability to make routine plays.

Either way, the result was the same: Mount Carmel 5, Santana 2.

The victory was the first for No. 4 Mount Carmel (23-6) in three championship games against Santana (No. 6, 21-8). The Sultans defeated Mount Carmel for the section championships in 1984 and 1986. The Sundevils won section titles in 1981 and 1982.

“I think they were a little concerned about (our speed) and they got a little rattled,” Mount Carmel Coach Sam Blalock said.

Santana took a 1-0 lead on an error and two singles with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.

Santana pitcher Bill Reed was sailing along, having struck out six in the first four innings. Mount Carmel, which stole 131 bases this season, put runners on base in every inning, but two double plays and Reed’s pitching stifled the Sundevils’ running game.

But in the bottom of the fifth, three Santana errors, a wild pitch and three walks helped Mount Carmel to a 4-1 lead.

Ron Kelly walked to open the inning. Reed then slipped trying to field a bunt by Kevin Cerveny, and when Reed threw the ball to first, Kelly ran to third. Kelly then scored on an errant throw to third base.

One out later, Mark King hit a double to left field, scoring Cerveny to give the Sundevils a 2-1 lead. Reed then walked Rich Hooper to put runners at first and second.

Mike Limtiaco then doubled to right, scoring King. Bruce Moutaw mishandled the relay and Hooper scored the fourth run of the inning.

“We muffed the bunt play and that opened up the flood gates,” Santana Coach Jim Saska said. “We kept them in check until then. They didn’t start running until after they scored those runs.”

Mount Carmel added a run in the sixth when Steve Rader walked, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch by reliever Tim Barry.