Lions Baseball Tournament Roundup : Inning That Wouldn’t End: La Jolla Scores 23 Runs Against Mar Vista

La Jolla High School set an apparent state record with 23 runs in one inning Saturday on the way to defeating Mar Vista, 27-1, in an A Division game of the 38th Lions/Mike Morrow baseball tournament.

“It was one of those innings you just couldn’t shut off,” said Dick Huddleston, La Jolla coach. “I couldn’t tell the kids to go up there and strike out. The ball flew all over the yard.”

According to the 1988 National High School Sports Record Book, the outburst puts La Jolla sixth in the national record book for most runs scored in an inning. Middlesboro (Ky.) High School holds the record with 36 runs in an inning in 1984. La Jolla is behind Phoenix (Ariz.) North, which is fifth with 26 runs in a 1942 game.

Though the California Interscholastic Federation does not keep a one-inning scoring record, none of the five teams ahead of La Jolla in the national record book are from California.

La Jolla (8-2) led, 2-0, going into the fourth when the hits--and runs--started. The Vikings didn’t stop until they had batted around three times. They sent 15 batters to the plate before an out was recorded and scored the 23 runs on 17 hits. The game was called after five innings.

“I told the kids to save a few of those,” Huddleston joked.

He added: “You had to feel sorry for Mar Vista, but they’re a young team.”

Senior first baseman Brent Woodall went 3 for 3 in the fourth--including a two-run homer--and was 4 for 4 overall with 4 runs scored and 4 runs batted in.

Catcher Adam Lenain also was 3 for 3 in the inning and went 4 for 5 and had 4 RBIs for the game. Second baseman Willie Barnett was 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs.

The benefactor of all the runs was pitcher Luke Williams, who improved to 2-1.

In other A Division games:

Julian 5, Clairemont 3--Travis Small (4-0) went the distance and limited Clairemont to three hits in a game at Escondido High. Julian (5-1) scored 3 runs on 3 hits and an error in the top of the seventh. Lowell Ellis was 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs for Clairemont (3-7, 1-1). Jeff Davis (0-2) took the loss.

Marian 12, Lincoln 11--Mike Jeremiah tripled home Chip Beardsley and then scored when the throw to third skipped past the Lincoln third baseman as Marian scored two runs in the top of the seventh at Mission Bay High. Brannon Hays (1-0) earned the victory for Marian (2-6-1). Fred Stokes (1-1), who was 3 for 4 with 4 RBIs, took the loss for Lincoln (1-7, 0-2).

El Capitan 10, University City 1--Right fielder Ken Jarvis went 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs for host El Capitan. University City (5-5) was held to 3 hits.

Coronado 9, USDHS 6--Three home runs, two in the second inning, powered Coronado past University of San Diego High School (3-5) at Crawford.

Oceanside 9, Parker 4--Shortstop Kip Sosa hit his first home run of the year with one on in the third and walked to score the go-ahead run in the five-run seventh. Sosa was 2 for 3. Mike North (2-1), a left-hander, went the distance and scattered seven hits for Oceanside (3-4).

Escondido 7, St, Augustine 4--Catcher Tom Afenir hit a three-run homer in the four-run second inning for Escondido (4-4). Afenir was 2 for 4 with 4 RBIs. Andy Martin (2-2) gave up 3 hits and 3 runs, none earned, in five innings for the victory. Martin was also 3 for 4.

Mission Bay 11, San Pasqual 2--Brian Miranda had his second consecutive big game for Mission Bay, going 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Scott Kuhl struck out 6 for his second victory for Mission Bay (8-0-1).

Crawford 13, El Camino 7--Keith Gilbert hit a two-run homer in the second inning to lead host Crawford (6-4). Eric Turner was 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs for the winners, and A.J. Leighton improved to 3-2. El Camino (1-6) was led by Julian Cortez, who hit a bases-empty homer in the second and a bases-loaded triple in the third.

AAA DIVISION

Sweetwater 5, Santana 4--Two throwing errors by Santana (6-2, 0-1) led to host Sweetwater’s tying and winning runs in the top of the seventh. Losing pitcher Joe Church (0-1) threw wildly to third base attempting to pick off Larry Meza, and catcher Robert Tucker was also wild when he tried to pick Raul Sanchez off third. Both runners scored.

Monte Vista 9, San Dieguito 8--Halifu Johnson was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored for Monte Vista (6-5, 1-1). Ernie Reyes (3-1) was the winning pitcher and also had 2 hits and 3 RBIs.

Mt. Carmel 5, Patrick Henry 3--Ron Kelly went 2 for 3 with an RBI and pitched four innings to pick up the victory at Granite Hills. Patrick Henry fell to 4-5.

Granite Hills 11, Southwest 8--Host Granite Hills (6-3, 1-1) won despite six errors. Jeff Waymier was 2 for 2 with 2 RBIs and 3 stolen bases, including a steal of home in the third. John Fenn and Shane Boyd each added two RBIs for Granite Hills.

Montgomery 8, Point Loma 1--Just 2 of Montgomery’s 8 runs were earned as host Point Loma (5-4-1, 1-1) made 5 errors. Emilio Camarena hit a two-run double in Montgomery’s four-run fifth. Winning pitcher Oscar Ramirez (2-0) scattered seven hits. Jeff Gattis (3-1) took the loss.

Poway 13, Orange Glen 4--John Youngkin (2-0) scattered three hits and gave up three runs, none earned, in six innings for the win. Greg Sorell was 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs and Bill Bertsh was 2 for 3 with 4 RBIs for Poway (4-4).

AA DIVISION Helix 9, Fallbrook 6--Damon Chase was 4 for 4 with 3 runs scored for Helix (7-1), which scored 5 runs in the second to take the lead for good. David Luban (3-1) struck out six for the victory. Dirk Fischer hit a two-run triple in the sixth for Fallbrook (6-3).

Kearny 8, Valhalla 1--Brian Archer went the distance, surrendering 3 hits for Kearny (4-5-1). Jason Adams hit a home run in the first inning and went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs.

Hoover 13, Serra 11--Second baseman Mike Wahlstrom hit a grand slam in a seven-run third inning for Hoover (7-4). Ken Fiestel (2-1) picked up the victory with help from Ryan Rusich, who ended a 6-run rally by Serra in the seventh. Gus Garcia also hit a home run for Hoover.

Castle Park 3, San Marcos 1--Juan Beltran (3-1) limited San Marcos to just four hits and helped himself by hitting a home run and a double. Castle Park is 7-1-1.

Hilltop 15, El Cajon Valley 3--Nine El Cajon Valley errors contributed to the lopsided victory for host Hilltop (1-5). Rob DePerro picked up the victory and also went 3 for 6 with an RBI. Bill Russ hit a home run for El Cajon Valley.

Madison 18, San Diego 7--Madison scored 10 runs in the first two innings at Valhalla High School in a game stopped in the bottom of the sixth by the 10-run rule. Andy Williams had four RBIs for Madison (9-1). San Diego is 6-4 and 1-1.