Montclair Prep Rallies to Post 1-A Victory

Scott Saklad of Montclair Prep pitched his way out of a jam and into a win Friday, shutting out Serrano High for 3 2/3 innings as the No. 1-seeded Mounties rolled to a 12-7 win in the opening round of the Southern Section 1-A Division playoffs at Encino Colt Field.

Saklad came on with the bases loaded in the fourth inning in relief of starter Chris Anderson. But before the inning was over, Serrano would have a 7-6 lead.

“Chris threw all right, we just didn’t help him out,” Saklad said. “I came in and picked up the problem and kept the ball low.”

Serrano (12-10) jumped on Anderson early, scoring three unearned runs on three singles and two errors in the first inning. Serrano added one run in the third and three more in the fourth.

The Mounties (16-5-1) scored four runs in the bottom of the first and one in each of the second and third innings.

Montclair Prep put the game away in the fifth. Leadoff batter Keyaan Cook sent a Wendell Young pitch over the fence in right-center to tie the score, 7-7.

Andy Shaw, who was two for two with four runs scored, followed with a double and the rally was on. Brent Polacheck doubled home Shaw, then later scored on the front end of a double steal.

J. T. Billingslea stole home a few pitches later and Montclair was on top to stay, 10-7.

In Friday’s quarterfinals, Montclair Prep will play Fillmore, a 22-6 winner over Templeton.