USDHS Rallies to Top UC

Not known to wear his feelings on his sleeve, University City pitcher Jason Parmenter delivered his teammates a mouthful during their City Western League baseball game Friday against USDHS.

Soon after, USDHS capitalized on the reprimand, and Parmenter regretted it.

The Dons’ four-run fifth inning paved their way to a 7-2 victory over 10th-ranked University City at the University of San Diego. The victory kept USDHS (12-6, 3-1) a half-game behind Mission Bay in the City West as the first of three rounds neared completion, no small feat in a league coaches say is balanced.

“Mission Bay’s tough, UC will be hard to beat with (Mike) Saipe pitching next time, and La Jolla’s going to bump someone off before this thing is over,” USDHS Coach Dick Serrano said.

But about Parmenter. In the top of the fifth, with the score tied, 1-1, UC (10-5, 2-2) had back-to-back runners picked off and retired in identical rundowns. Parmenter then spoke his piece.

USDHS came back and scored on an outfield error, a balk and Chris Richard’s single to right that drove in Gavin Millay and Jeff Moore.

“It really affected me a lot,” said Parmenter, later repentant. “I wasn’t thinking about their feelings. They played great defense out there and here I was all over them.”

It was Parmenter’s first time on the mound since his no-hitter April 12 against Kearny. Although his arm was a bit sore from his last start, he wouldn’t make excuses.

“That wasn’t a factor in my pitching,” said Parmenter, who gave up seven hits. “Actually, this has been a good week for me. I felt good, more in control.”

What he couldn’t control was the bat of USDHS’s David Sanchez, who went three for four, including two triples, scored twice and drove in a run.

Sanchez is a demanding hitter--he finished last season with a .500 average--who isn’t happy unless he’s contributing everywhere. He started the week batting .327, but his five for nine effort the past two games upped his average to .361. His six RBIs this week gave him 18 for the year.

“I’ve changed my stance, opened it up a more,” he said. “And I’m playing more relaxed. I put a lot of pressure on myself going into the season, but I’m going into each game with a positive attitude now.”

Said Serrano: “I’m not too concerned about (David’s hitting). He’s a quality hitter, and he’s going to take some quality cuts.”

UC had only four hits.

“There weren’t a lot of glaring errors,” UC Coach Alan LaMotte said. “We just didn’t hit like we’re capable of.”

Kevin McDonald (3-2) pitched 5 1/3 innings for USDHS and got the victory. Sanchez scored in the first on a passed ball, and the Dons added two runs in the sixth.

UC scored on Pat Cottrell squeeze in the fourth and on Saipe’s RBI triple in the sixth.