High School Baseball : Upset Lifts Agoura Into Playoffs

Agoura overcame seemingly unbeatable odds to beat Santa Clara on Tuesday and secure a berth in next week’s Southern Section 3-A Division playoffs.

Santa Clara had not lost a Frontier League game and the Saints’ starting pitcher, Richard Mendez, was unbeaten in seven starts. Mendez also led Ventura County pitchers with an 0.85 earned-run average.

But Agoura scored six runs off Mendez in the first two innings and ran away with a 7-3 victory that earned the Chargers a postseason appearance.

Sophomore Brian Smith hit a two-run shot 340 feet over the center-field fence to highlight a three-run first and senior pitcher Jeff Ritter added a three-run home run in the second.

Ritter (6-3) and reliever David Aronowitz combined for a three-hitter as Agoura improved to 10-9-2, 5-5-2 in league play.

Andy Ahearn hit a two-run home run in the sixth for Santa Clara, which dropped to 16-3, 11-1.

Calabasas 8, Santa Paula 4--Calabasas took a 5-0 lead in the first inning in the Frontier League game and withstood a Santa Paula rally to clinch a 3-A playoff berth.

The Coyotes’ David Kalman was 3 for 4, scored a run and had two stolen bases and Chris Ingelhart was 2 for 4, including a solo home run. David Anzivino was 2 for 3 and had two RBIs.

Duane Dennis (4-1) got the win in relief for Calabasas (9-10-2, 5-5-2). Dennis allowed 2 hits and 1 run in 3 innings. He struck out four batters and walked two.

Chaminade 11, Harvard 4--Trailing, 4-1, after 1 1/2 innings, Chaminade exploded for five runs in the bottom of the second in the Santa Fe League game.

Greg Baumgartner’s three-run double gave the Eagles a 6-4 lead. Baumgartner was 3 for 4 and had three RBIs. He also improved his record to 4-0 with 2 innings of no-hit relief.

Teammate Ken Meyer was 3 for 4 with a run scored and a stolen base and Tim Lavin and Peter Miller each had two hits. Lavin hit his third home run and Mike LeCocq added four RBIs for Chaminade (17-5-1, 11-1-1).

Harvard is 9-10-1, 6-6-1.

St. Genevieve 5, Cathedral 1--Wence Ramirez singled home Roland De La Maza for the go-ahead run in the third inning as St. Genevieve clinched at least a tie for the Santa Fe League title.

Mike Rohrbough (9-1) allowed six hits and struck out nine in going the distance for St. Genevieve (18-2-1, 12-0-1).

The Valiants can wrap up the league title with a victory over Chaminade in their regular-season finale Friday.

Hart 2, Burbank 0--Chris Matkin and Jason Edwards overcame some shaky Indian defense to combine for a four-hit Foothill League victory.

Matkin (5-0) allowed four hits and struck out four in five-plus innings before giving way to Edwards, who notched his fourth save.

Hart (24-0, 14-0) committed three errors but took advantage of two Burbank errors and a wild pitch to score its second run.

Saugus 11, Burroughs (R) 2--Scott Warr (2-0) allowed five hits and struck out nine in six innings for Saugus.

George Lopata was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBIs for Saugus (16-8, 10-4).

Tom Dodson was 2 for 5 with 2 doubles, 1 RBI and 1 run scored for Saugus (16-8, 10-4).

Bosco Tech 5, Alemany 4--Greg Biley, Bill Horvat and John Lite each hit a home run but the rest of the Alemany lineup was hitless in the Del Rey League game.

The Indians (15-11, 6-5) committed four errors. Alemany also left seven runners on base.

Alhambra 12, Burroughs 4--German Louisaga struck out 12 Burroughs batters and teammate Denny McCrudden was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, including a solo home run.

E. J. Pape was 2 for 4 with one RBI and Mario Joy was 2 for 2 with two RBIs for Burroughs (11-11, 7-7).

Antelope Valley 7, Canyon 4--The Antelopes broke a tie with four unearned runs on three Canyon errors in the fourth.

Gary Morgan had three hits, including a double and triple for Canyon (5-14, 4-11).

Montclair Prep 15, Marshall Fundamental 3--Pat Huston’s three-run home run keyed an eight-run Mountie rally in the fifth inning of the Alpha League game.

Craig Handschu was 3 for 5 and scored two runs to lead the Mounties’ 11-hit attack.

Maranatha 8, L.A. Baptist 0--The Knights outhit the Minutemen, 11-7, but failed to score.

Paul Berry and Chuck Salerno were both 2 for 2 for L. A. Baptist (2-12-2, 1-8-1).

Fillmore 19, Oak Park 1--Fillmore scored in every inning and pounded out 13 hits in the Tri-Valley League game at Oak Park.

Willie Leighton tossed a four-hitter and struck out 13 in going the distance.

Western Christian 7, Village Christian 3--The Fighting Lancers scored four unearned runs in the sixth on two errors, a wild pitch and three hits.

Brentwood 23, Providence 17--Mark Miyamoto was 5 for 6 with five RBIs in a losing cause.

Highland Hall 39, Clearview 0--Chris Sorensen was 4 for 4 with seven RBIs and Aaron Rudelson was 4 for 5 with four RBIs.

Grace Community 15, West Valley Christian 2--Chad Hankinson scattered 5 hits and 4 walks and struck out 10 to lead the Hawks.

Oakwood 12, Windward 1--Steve Sokoloff and Marc Williams combined on a three-hitter as Oakwood clinched the Liberty League title.

Queen of Angels 21, Southwestern 6--Oscar Miramontes had a triple, double and was 4 for 5 for Queen of Angels.