Northview Bats Bludgeon Bishop Montgomery, 11-5

Bishop Montgomery High School gave up two home runs and seven runs in the first two innings and never recovered, dropping an 11-5 decision to Northview on Thursday in the semifinals of the Glendora High Baseball Tournament at Henderson Field.

The Knights (1-1-2) will play Glendora High for third place on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Bishop Montgomery Coach Bob Anderson sounded more like a football analyst than a baseball coach when describing the first two innings, in which Northview pounded out seven hits and scored seven runs.

“Two mistake pitches and boom, you’re down 7-0,” Anderson said after Northview broke open the game early with the two homers.

“Obviously, if you get the ball up at this place, it’s going to be out. It is such a short porch.”

The Vikings (3-0) took a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a grand-slam home run by Jeff Eckler, who was 2-for-2 with five RBIs.

In the second inning, Steve Mikesell put Northview up 7-0 with a three-run home run. Mikesell was 2-for-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Both of Northview’s home runs were hit off Bishop Montgomery starter Mario Juarez, who lasted just 1 1/3 innings. He gave up five hits and five runs, all earned.

Juarez was relieved by Tim Newville, who threw 2 1/3 innings and gave up eight hits and four runs (three earned). Joe O’Brien completed the remaining 1 1/3 innings of the game, which was called after five innings because of a two-hour time limit.

Three Northview pitchers--Chach Aguilar, Darren Murphy and Carlos Hernandez--held the Knights to five runs (four earned) on four hits and struck out eight.

Bishop Montgomery’s only extra-base hit was a double by Abab Cabrera in the fourth inning, when the Knights scored four runs.