St. Bernard Blanks Knights, Stays in Tie for Camino Lead
Pitchers Dan Melendez, Al Ibarra and Greg Pennell combined for a one-hit shutout Wednesday to lead visiting St. Bernard past St. Monica, 5-0, in a Camino Real League baseball game.
The Vikings, who improved to 16-4 overall and 10-1 in league play, remained in a first-place tie with El Segundo. The co-leaders will meet Wednesday night at El Segundo Recreation Park in a game that could decide the championship.
Melendez allowed one hit while striking out eight through four innings to pick up his sixth league victory without a loss. The left-hander (9-1 overall) threw 60 pitches and struck out the side in the first and third innings.
“This is the hardest he’s thrown all year,” said St. Bernard Coach Bob Yarnall. “He’s stronger now because we rested him last week to try to get him ready for the playoffs.”
Ibarra pitched two innings without allowing a hit, while Pennell did not allow a hit in the seventh.
Yarnall was also impressed with Ibarra’s outing.
“He was overpowering their hitters,” he said. “When they did hit the ball, they were late.”
Jeff Richardson had two hits, an RBI, scored two runs and stole three bases for St. Bernard, which had seven stolen bases.
Melendez drove in a run with a triple in a three-run third inning, while Ibarra delivered a sacrifice fly. Chris Richardson and Grant Hohman contributed with two hits apiece.
St. Monica’s only scoring threat came in the third inning with runners on first and third with one out, but Melendez struck out the next two batters to end the inning.
The Vikings resume league play Saturday in a 2 p.m. game at Serra.
Bishop Amat 13, Bishop Montgomery 0--In what Coach Bob Anderson called “absolutely our worst game of the year,” the Knights committed five errors and managed only three hits in dropping a pivotal Angelus League game at Bishop Amat in La Puente.
Bishop Montgomery (12-9-1 overall, 4-7 in the league) needs a win over Bishop Amat on Saturday night at Torrance Park to maintain its hope of securing the third and final 5-A playoff berth from the Angelus League. Bishop Amat is tied for third with the Knights with a 3-6 league mark.
With a sweep over Bishop Amat this week, Bishop Montgomery could have wrapped up a playoff spot. That’s what made Wednesday’s collapse so infuriating for Anderson.
“You shouldn’t have to get your team up for the big games,” he said. “We came out and were just flat. It was a bad day all the way around.”
The Knights must beat Bishop Amat on Saturday and St. Paul must win at least one of its two games with Bishop Amat next week for Bishop Montgomery to make the playoffs.
Junior right-handers Tom Rivera and James Romero combined on a three-hitter for Bishop Amat. Rivera allowed one hit in five innings to earn the victory.
South Torrance 6, Centennial 2--Left-handed sophomore Stu Manthey allowed five hits in pitching a complete game and Dan Jenkins and Kevin Fitzpatrick each collected three hits in four at-bats to lead the Spartans to an Ocean League win at Centennial. South improved to 7-13 overall and 3-8 in league play.