Angelus League Baseball : Mater Dei Erases Doubts With 10-0 Win Over Servite

Any doubt which is the best high school baseball team in Orange County was erased Wednesday night after Mater Dei routed rival Servite, 10-0, in Anaheim’s Glover Stadium.

The victory allowed Mater Dei (20-2, 12-2) to clinch at least a tie for the Angelus League title. The Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in the county, will advance to the Southern Section’s 5-A division playoffs as the league’s top team because they won the season series against Servite.

Right-hander Tony Pena (9-1) allowed only 3 hits and finished with 2 strikeouts in the final inning to earn his sixth consecutive victory. Earlier this season, Pena threw a 4-hitter in a 2-1 win over Servite.

Jim Austin, the Monarchs’ power-hitting right fielder, provided all the offense that Pena needed with a two-run homer in the third inning and a two-run double in the fourth. Mater Dei scored four runs in the fourth inning for a 6-0 lead.

Austin’s homer was his ninth of the season, tying him for the county lead with Danny Lane of Laguna Beach and Mark Dodd of Fountain Valley. Austin, who has signed with Arizona State, also leads the county with 40 RBIs.

“I can’t recall a more convincing win over a quality team,” said Bob Ickes, Mater Dei coach. “Yesterday (Tuesday) was the quietest and most intense practice we’ve had all year. It was strange, because this group is usually joking around and real loose.”

For Ickes, the league title was his fourth in 14 seasons at Mater Dei and was especially satisfying with his son, Robbie, playing a key role.

Robbie Ickes, a junior catcher, hit a homer, triple and drove in three runs and also picked off a runner at first base.

Servite (18-6, 11-3) hardly played like the county’s fourth-ranked team. The Friars had a runner picked off at first by Austin after a base hit and then had another picked off first by Ickes.

Servite came into the game with three players--catcher Brian Criss, left fielder Tom Szymanski and right fielder Jim Berry--among the county’s top hitters. But they failed to get a hit off Pena.

Despite the fine pitching and power hitting, Ickes credited his team’s defense, and particularly the play of shortstop Brian Keegan, for the team’s success in 1988.

“We were a terrible defensive team in the summer,” Ickes said. “Our shortstop has made us. He worked his tail off during the summer and has taken charge of this team.”

There is some consolation for Servite. The Friars have an opportunity to gain a share of the league title if they can beat host Mater Dei on Friday in the final game of the regular season.