Sean Rees Has No-Hitter Through 5 Innings, Is Lifted and Mission Bay Loses, 5-1

Sean Rees of Mission Bay High School pitched no-hit ball through five innings Thursday, but when he wasn’t there for the sixth inning, University City scored five runs and went on to a 5-1 City Western League victory at University City.

Chad Hall (2-4) went the distance for University City (9-15 overall, 3-11 in league play), allowing seven hits and stranding runners in every inning but one to earn his first victory since March. Hall’s RBI single tied the score in the sixth. Mission Bay is 20-3-1 and 10-3.

Mission Bay Coach Dennis Pugh said he took Rees out because his pitcher had thrown two innings on Tuesday and is the probable starter against La Jolla in next Tuesday’s game to decide the league championship. The teams have split their first two meetings.

“I am not going to over-pitch my pitchers,” Pugh said. “He felt like he was getting tired, so I took him out. This game means nothing. We need him on Tuesday and in the playoffs.”

Scott Kuhl (8-1) relieved Rees and gave up the five runs in the sixth. Bob Alvarez had a bases-loaded single to drive in a pair of runs, and Dave Beck hit a double to drive in the last two.

In other City Western League games:

USDHS 11, Kearny 9--Brian Boyd was 3 for 4 with an RBI double for USDHS (13-10, 8-5). The first five Dons to come to the plate scored during a six-run fourth inning. Kearny (8-14-1, 4-9) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

La Jolla 4, Clairemont 2--Jorge Romero (3-0) pitched a 5-hitter and struck out 5 as visiting La Jolla (18-5, 11-2) moved one game ahead of Mission Bay in the league race. Clairemont is 7-15 and 4-10.

AVOCADO LEAGUE

San Pasqual 11, Ramona 1--Jim Clayton’s grand slam capped a seven-run third-inning for visiting San Pasqual (13-9, 9-3). Keith Nichols hit two solo homers, and Kevin Herde hit a two-run homer for San Pasqual. Ramona is 10-11 and 4-8.

Carlsbad 7, El Camino 2--Tom O’Grady allowed only one hit--Todd Swanson’s single in the sixth--and Reed Pippen and Robert Wurster hit solo home runs as No. 5 Carlsbad (19-5, 12-0) clinched the league title. El Camino is 3-19 and 2-10.

San Marcos 13, Oceanside 7--Bill McElroy went 4 for 4 and knocked in two runs to lead host San Marcos (12-8-2, 7-5). Tom Urso hit a three-run home run for Oceanside, which fell to 8-15 and 3-9.

CITY CENTRAL LEAGUE

Crawford 4, Hoover 3 (9 innings)--Josh Neil singled in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Crawford (16-7, 11-2) the victory and a half-game lead over Hoover (18-8, 11-3). Crawford has two games to play, Hoover one. Jeff Wilcox (8-3) had a complete-game victory. Felipe Preciado (11-1) carried a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but Neil doubled in one run and Wilcox tied the score with a sacrifice fly.

Briefly--St. Augustine 7, Christian 6.

CITY EASTERN LEAGUE

Madison 7, Morse 3--Left-hander Devin Fitzmaurice ran his record to 11-0 by throwing a 2-hitter for No. 2 Madison (23-3, 12-2). Wally Popiela hit a solo home run for Madison in a five-run first. Teammate Buzz Brown was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI. Morse is 12-13 and 6-8.

Patrick Henry 14, Point Loma 4--Dave Barnier had five hits and hit for the cycle to lead visiting Patrick Henry (12-11, 7-7). Barnier had two singles, a double, a triple, a solo home run and four RBIs. Corey Powell also homered for Patrick Henry. Point Loma is 8-15-1 and 3-11.

Serra 5, Mira Mesa 4--Gary Fadden’s single scored Chris Robison and Tracy Moran in the seventh to win it for host Serra and Raul Castillo (2-0). Rob Knight had four hits for Serra (9-15, 5-9). No. 10 Mira Mesa is 17-7 and 9-5.

METRO CONFERENCE

Hilltop 12, Marian 10--Marian’s Brannon Hays hit two home runs and Dave Powers and Beto Martinez hit one each, but visiting Hilltop (7-12, 6-5) still won. Jason High homered for Hilltop and Don Diffenbaugh had 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Marian is 3-18-1 and 1-10.

Briefly--Chula Vista 5, Southwest 2; Coronado 16, Mar Vista 7.

PALOMAR LEAGUE

Torrey Pines 12, Fallbrook 6--John Grimstad had three hits and reliever John Hochleutner improved his record to 6-0 as host Torrey Pines (21-3, 8-3) defeated Orange Glen. John Lynch and Bob Kennedy each had two hits for No. 4 Torrey Pines. Jeff Lawrence hit a two-run home run for Fallbrook (13-9, 5-5).

Mt. Carmel 3, Vista 1--Joey Brownholtz (8-1) allowed a leadoff home run to Mark Webster, a double in the second inning and then retired the next 16 batters. Brownholtz struck out eight as No. 6 Mt. Carmel improved to 18-10 and 8-2. Vista is 10-14-1 and 4-7.

San Dieguito 9, Orange Glen 2--John Stewart’s suicide squeeze triggered a five-run seventh for visiting San Dieguito (4-12, 3-6). Orange Glen is 6-19-1 and 0-10.