HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Hilltop Gets Offense Back in Gear, Tops USDHS

Coming off a meager offensive showing and its first loss of the season, sixth-ranked Hilltop High scored five runs in the first inning and went on to defeat ninth-ranked USDHS, 9-2, in a nonleague baseball game Tuesday at Hilltop.

The Lancers (5-1-1) lost, 3-1, Saturday to No. 2 Poway in the championship of the Hilltop-Moose Tournament, but mustered some offense Tuesday against the struggling Dons (3-4), who dropped their third game in a row.

Johnny Garibay led off the bottom of the first with a single. Bobby Lugo then walked, and both advanced on a wild pitch. After Sergio Guzman was hit by a pitch to load the bases, cleanup hitter Jorge Munoz doubled to left to drive in three runs.

Munoz scored when Jose Silva doubled, and Silva scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Nathan Dighera to give Hilltop the five-run inning.

The Lancers also scored four unearned runs in the fifth after a two-out error by USDHS. Dighera drove in two of the runs with a single.

Munoz finished with three hits, including two doubles, in four at bats.

Starter Sean McGinnis (3-0) allowed three hits in four innings. Silva pitched the seventh, retired the side in order, and picked up two strikeouts to give him 34 in 21 innings. He has also only allowed three earned runs for a 1.00 ERA.

Outfielder/pitcher Henry Mercado, the Lancers’ leading hitter at .500 (eight for 16), missed the game because of a twisted knee he injured Saturday.

Other nonleague game:

Imperial 14, Antelope, Ariz., 1--On a blustery day in Imperial, Darren Ross (3-0) held Antelope to one hit and went the distance for the victory. The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule. Imperial improved to 4-1.

Crawford Tournament

University City 13, Clairemont 1--Pat Cottrell hit a home run and knocked in four runs to lead University City (6-1) in a consolation game. The Centurions also got big days at the plate from Brady Bishop, who went three for three and scored four runs, and Barry Waits, who went three for four and scored three runs. Mike Saipe (4-0) struck out eight for the victory. Clairemont is 1-5-1.

Rainouts--The championship game of the Crawford Tournament between Morse and La Jolla was postponed because of rain as were a number of other games throughout the county. The Morse-La Jolla game has not yet been rescheduled.

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Palomar League

Mt. Carmel d. Orange Glen, 15-11, 15-17, 15-2, 15-5--Jason Kearnachan and Robert Treahy each had 16 kills to lead Mt. Carmel (3-0). Sean Nowell also had 16 kills for Orange Glen (3-1).

San Dieguito d. Poway, 15-13, 15-12, 10-15, 15-2--Three-time defending section champion San Dieguito was pushed to four games before prevailing at Poway.

Nonleague

Patrick Henry d. El Cajon Valley, 15-1, 15-10, 15-2--John Pike had 15 kills to the Patriots.