HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Win Lifts Antelope Valley Into 1st

It has been three seasons since Antelope Valley High has been involved in a Golden League baseball title race, but the Antelopes seem to be handling the pressure well.

Despite starting shakily Friday against visiting Saugus, Antelope Valley settled down to defeat the two-time defending league champion, 4-2, behind the hitting of George Boykins and the pitching of Raul McNaughton and Chris Abbey.

The victory avenged a 9-1 loss to Saugus in the first round of league play, extended Antelope Valley’s winning streak to five, and gave the Antelopes (8-6, 6-2 in league play) a half-game lead over Saugus (10-6, 6-3) and Palmdale (9-5, 6-3).

Boykins, a 5-foot-8, 140-pound spark plug, was one for three, drove in two runs and scored twice. His two-out single in the second inning drove in Freddy Edwards and Ryan Branch to break a 1-1 tie and he scored on Chad Eberhardt’s single.

“We were a little more relaxed today than when we played them last time,” Boykins said. “We were pretty confident.”

Abbey, who picked up his second save, replaced McNaughton (3-2) in the fifth with one out and runners at first and second. He got Josh Nolan to force the lead runner at third, then walked two consecutive batters to force in a run before Bates flied out to deep left to end the rally.