PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Redondo Rallies Again, Defeats North Torrance in an Extra Inning, 8-5

A point could be made that first-year baseball Coach Tim Ammentorp is under pressure to uphold the recent success at Redondo High School. He does not see it that way.

In fact, Ammentorp feels he is benefiting from the winning tradition.

The Seahawks’ winning ways in the Ocean League continued as they outlasted North Torrance High, 8-5, in eight innings Wednesday. The game was tied at 5-5 at the end of the scheduled seven innings.

Redondo scored three in the seventh and three in the eighth. “This is the third or fourth time this season we have rallied for victories,” commented Ammentorp.

“The players that were around last year won’t let us lose. With that type of attitude, you don’t need to rebuild.”

Tony Preutt hit a three-run homer in the sixth to give North Torrance a 5-2 lead.

Saxon starting pitcher Ty Tout opened the seventh by walking Redondo’s first two hitters. Scott Dieckmann relieved Tout and gave up a sacrifice fly to Brian Davison.

Saxon Coach Mike Neily chose to walk Bob Zeller to load the bases. Ian Martin foiled the strategy by producing a two-out single that drove in two runs.

North Torrance loaded the bases in its half of the seventh but Davison, who relieved Seahawk starter Artie Scarpino in the fifth, got Bo Monson to ground out sharply to second.

Dieckmann’s wildness on the mound got North Torrance into trouble in the eighth. Frank Bignami led off by getting hit with a pitch and was wild-pitched to second. Dieckmann walked the ninth hitter, Keith Sedgwick. Ron Brooks followed with his second bunt single to load the bases. Larry Rodriguez singled to left to put Redondo on top, 6-5.

Then the roof caved in on the Saxons. Davison reached first on a error to net another run before Zeller singled to center to make it 8-5.

Davison made the lead stand up as the Seahawks ran their overall record to 7-5 (3-0 in the Ocean League). Despite giving up three runs in the sixth, the first three earned runs he has given up this season, Davison recorded his first win of the season. The loss was disappointing for North Torrance, 3-7-1 (1-2) as it stranded 13 runners. Saxon pitchers walked seven hitters, six of whom scored.

In addition to two hits by Brooks, Zeller had two.

St. Bernard 8, Pius X 1--Senior Dan Melendez did it all for the Vikings in a Camino Real League game at Pius X in Downey. The left-hander pitched a shutout through five innings and went three for three with two home runs and a triple.

Melendez belted solo shots in the third and seventh innings and Jeff Richardson added a two-run homer in the seventh for St. Bernard, which remained in first place with a 3-0 mark and improved to 9-3 overall.

It was the 33rd consecutive league victory for the Vikings, who can tie Lakewood’s CIF-Southern Section record Saturday with a win over visiting St. Monica.

Melendez (5-1) allowed four hits, struck out five and walked one in his five innings of work.

Mira Costa 6, Centennial 5--For the third straight game, Mira Costa rallied for a run in the last inning to pull out an Ocean League victory. Freshman Cody Beason drove in the game-winning run with one out in the top of the seventh to break a 5-5 tie at Centennial.

The Mustangs, who remained in a first-place tie in the league at 3-0 and improved to 7-3 overall, built a 5-1 lead after two innings. But Centennial (1-2 in the league) tied the score in the fifth.

Bobby Dominguez led off the Mira Costa seventh with a walk, took second base on a groundout and scored when Beason singled to right-center field. Sophomore right-hander Jason Garner pitched the final 2 2/3 innings to earn his fourth victory against one defeat.

Miraleste 9, Salesian 5--Chad Somers, Mike Ryan and Mike Bronaugh each homered and Neil Modzeleski drove in three runs to power the Marauders to a Santa Fe League victory at Miraleste.

Somers hit a three-run homer to highlight a five-run first inning, Ryan belted a two-run homer in the second and Bronaugh added a solo shot in the third as Miraleste (2-0 in league play, 8-4 overall) built an 8-2 lead.

Junior left-hander Chris Hubbard (4-0) pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and striking out seven.

El Segundo 27, Verbum Dei 2--The Eagles built an 11-0 lead in the first inning and went on a school record for most runs in a game as they crushed Verbum Dei at Jackie Robinson Field in Compton.

Catcher Garrett Quaintance paced a 18-hit attack by going four for four with two triples, a double and four RBIs. Dan Manjarrez also drove in four runs for El Segundo, which improved to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in the Camino Real League with its fifth straight win.

Right-handers Rob Croxall (3-3), who threw four innings, and Eric Stevenson combined for the win. Stevenson also drove in three runs.