High School Baseball : Flu or Not, Madison’s Williams Makes Mira Mesa Batters Sick

Last week, the flu bug swept through the Madison High School baseball team, knocking four starters out of the lineup.

That’s when Coach Bob Roeder realized just how good a team he has this season. With the starters out, the Warhawks won 3 of 4 games and the Warhawk tournament.

Tuesday, several starters returned for the City Eastern League opener against Mira Mesa, and Madison continued its winning ways, 4-1, at Mira Mesa High.

Andy Williams, still recovering from the flu, pitched a three-hitter as Madison solidified its role as league favorite.

“We’ve really had a lot of guys come through for us,” Roeder said. “We lose a starter and someone else comes in.”

Tuesday, the Warhawks (7-1, 1-0) were without their cleanup hitter, right fielder Chris Pinzini, who still has the flu, but responded with 12 hits and at least two baserunners in six of the seven innings.

Center fielder Albert Mendiola had three hits and drove in a run, and left fielder Wally Popiela and right-fielder Ryan Huckabone had two hits apiece.

Madison left 12 runners on base.

Mira Mesa (6-2, 0-1) didn’t have as many scoring opportunities. When it did, Williams, who transferred to Madison from Clairemont before the season, shut the door.

Of Williams’ eight strikeouts, six came with Mira Mesa runners in scoring position.

“He (Williams) still wasn’t feeling 100% because of the flu,” Roeder said. “But he paced himself and came up with the big pitches when he had to.”