Once-Meek Inherit Season: New Stars Lead Poway, 2-0

One player, a pitcher, was demoted to the junior varsity last year.

Another, a shortstop, was cut twice last season and started this season on the bench.

Is it any wonder, then, in this season of former scrubs blossoming into high school baseball standouts, that these two guided Poway to a 2-0 victory Friday against Fallbrook, a victory that left the erstwhile middle-of-the-pack Titans alone atop the Palomar League?

Nonbelievers need only look east. There throws Santana’s Jeff Matranga, who, though cut as a sophomore and so daunted as a junior that he played Colt baseball, is now 5-0.

Or look to the mount--Mt. Carmel, the school that has won three section titles but whose ace this year, Joey Brownholtz, twice was told he wasn’t good enough to make the team.

Friday, it was John Youngkin and Paul Scolari.

Youngkin, a 6-foot 2-inch senior, raised his record to 4-0. He struck out the side in the first inning en route to a four-hitter, eight strikeouts and Poway’s first shutout.

Scolari scored the first run after he stole third base, and he made two impressive putouts in the Titans’ first errorless game of the year. Moreover, his presence was felt.

“Paul is the best (shortstop) in the county,” Youngkin said. “Last year, I’d wince when someone hit a ground ball.”

If there was a time and a place for unknowns to gain stature, it was February at Poway.

Rudy Casciato, an assistant at Mt. Carmel for seven years and at University of San Diego High for eight, began his first season in charge.

And he began without a thought in his head. Well, almost.

“I told them, ‘I don’t know nothing about nobody,’ ” he recalled.

What he learned after three games sent him in search of new identities. Poway lost all three and made 13 errors.

With nothing to lose, Casciato made three moves that sent his team on the streak that has raised its record to 10-5.

He moved outfielder Greg Sorrell to first base, first baseman Bill Wraith to third and Scolari from the bench. This was the same Scolari he had twice cut from the Mt. Carmel team.

“Since then, we’ve been playing exceptional defense,” second baseman Ed Cornblum said. “Coach was so positive. Last year, we played more as individuals. This year, we’re playing as a team. I knew we’d be tough, but I’m a little surprised.”

It was Cornblum, with positioning help from assistant coach Dave Neff, who triggered two double plays that “kept us from getting going,” said Fallbrook Coach Dave Heid. “He made nice plays on balls he shouldn’t have got.”

The first run was scored in the third, when Bill Bertsch drove Scolari in with a single. An inning later, Cornblum, who had doubled to raise his average to .415, scored on Kevin Magruder’s double. The runs were scored against Jamie Willcox, who went the distance.

It was the fifth hit in two games for Magruder. And where was he three games ago? Why, the junior varsity, of course.

The victory lifted Poway to 4-0 in the league. Fallbrook is 10-5 and 2-1. The Titans are seeking their first Palomar title. They have finished no better than fourth the last three years.