HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Better Than Average: Sanders Rallies Poway

Poway’s Matt Sanders entered Friday’s Palomar League showdown with Mt. Carmel batting .056, but it was his three-run home run that sparked a 10-9 upset over the No. 2 Sundevils.

Sanders was the team’s designated hitter only because senior Frank Wolinski came down with the flu Friday morning. Coincidentally, Sanders had hit a three-run homer in Thursday’s practice to give the juniors a 6-5 victory over the seniors.

But his drive over the left field fence in the third inning was for real and breathed new life into Poway, which needed some quick resuscitation after Mt. Carmel’s six-run third inning.

The Sundevils had taken a 7-1 lead into the bottom of the inning but entered the fourth still in a game, 7-5.

A big third-inning defensive play by right fielder Greg Sorrell also helped the Titans win. Sorrell threw out Andy Owen at home to end Mt. Carmel’s six-run rally. Owen was trying to score from second on John Moon’s single, the eighth hit of the inning for the Sundevils.

That one run made the difference.

The victory went to reliever Danny Miller (9-1), who pitched the sixth and seventh innings. He struck out three and got an exceptional defensive effort from first baseman Robbie Plarski with runners on first and second to end it. Moon and Andy Panganiban were aboard on infield hits when Plarski reached over the six-foot fence up to his elbow and snared Armando Sanchez’s foul ball for the final out.

Plarski also doubled off the fence in the fourth inning to drive home a run that cut Mt. Carmel’s lead to 9-7, then drove home the game-winner in the sixth with a double to right center field.

The winning rally began with Sorrell’s walk and a wild pitch by loser Todd Voigt (0-1). Matt Schwenke followed with his third single, which scored Sorrell to tie it at 9-9, then went to second on the throw home. Plarski broke the tie.

The victory pulled No. 10 Poway (15-6-1, 6-3) and Rancho Buena Vista within two games of Mt. Carmel (19-4, 9-1) and virtually assured the Titans a playoff spot.

In other Palomar games:

Vista 5, Fallbrook 4--Chris Adams and Jason Harrington combined on a four-hitter to lead Vista 10-12-1, 4-5-1. Fallbrook is 9-11, 4-6.

Orange Glen 3, Torrey Pines 0--Jim Roby hit a two-run homer, and Scott Campbell pitched a four-hitter for Orange Glen (15-9, 6-4). Shaw Henderson allowed five hits for Torrey Pines (10-14, 1-9).

Rancho Buena Vista 10, San Dieguito 1--Chris Gorr was three for three, George Hadden three for four and Dave Roberts two for three with three RBIs and three stolen bases for Rancho Buena Vista (12-10-1, 7-3). The Longhorns’ Donovan Crocker (5-5) had nine strikeouts.

Avocado League

Oceanside 10, Carlsbad 2--Oceanside (19-7, 7-2) maintained its half-game league lead with the victory at home. The Pirates benefited from nine walks, a hit batsman and three Carlsbad errors. Bill Precht (4-2) came on with two out in the fourth and gave up just two hits for the victory. Jose Avila hit a bases-empty home run in the second for Oceanside.

San Pasqual 12, El Camino 6--Marin Soto (three for three) and Eric Marsh (three for four) led a 14-hit attack for San Pasqual (9-10-1, 6-2). Bobby Womble homered for El Camino (10-12, 4-5).

Escondido 4, Ramona 1--Brian Klungreseter (5-2) pitched a six-hitter, and Tom Afenir went two for three with an RBI and run scored for Escondido (11-10., 6-3).

Grossmont 2-A League

Grossmont 18, Valhalla 9--John Tatum had his second two-homer game of the season in an 18-hit attack for No. 1 Grossmont (22-2, 5-0). Tatum, who had two home runs in the same inning last week, was three for four with four RBIs. Mike Spears (6-0) went four innings for the victory. Jim Early added a three-run homer, Greg Layson was three for four with two RBIs and Jason Eskridge three for three with two runs for the first-place Foothillers. Tavo Carrillo was two for three with four RBIs for Valhalla (12-12-1, 2-3).

El Cajon Valley 7, West Hills 2--Mike Stadler pitched a five-hitter for El Cajon Valley (7-12, 2-3). West Hills is 3-19, 0-5.

Grossmont 3-A League

El Capitan 16, Mount Miguel 4--Jason Reed (3-5) struck out eight in six innings, and reliever Mike Farrell went three for five with two doubles and two RBIs for El Capitan (17-7, 5-0). Mount Miguel committed eight of the game’s 14 errors.

Nonleague

San Marcos 7, Clairemont 6--San Marcos (12-9) scored seven runs in the third inning.