HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP : Vista Beats Orange Glen, Clinches Palomar Title

The last time sixth-ranked Vista finished a game with only three hits, it lost the opportunity to clinch the Palomar League title.

That was Tuesday at home. Thursday at Orange Glen, the Panthers again could muster only three hits, but this time it was enough.

For the first time in 11 years, Vista (16-9-1, 11-3) won the league title with a 3-2 victory over Orange Glen.

The Panthers needed seventh-inning heroics to do it. Going into the seventh, Vista trailed 2-1 when Matt Stone reached on an error. With two out, Stone scored the tying run on Rodney DeLeon’s single. Tom Jaime walked, then scored on Steve Chatham’s single.

DeLeon gave up three hits and improved to 8-1.

It was a bitter ending for Orange Glen, which started the season 9-1 but finished 10-13, 3-11.

In other Palomar League games:

Poway 8, Fallbrook 0--With two outs, second-ranked Poway (20-6, 10-4) strung together seven hits and scored seven runs--two on wild pitches, one on a balk--in the sixth. Robert Plarski and Donnie Jones hit solo home runs in the fourth and sixth. Scott Tittrington (6-2) pitched a three-hitter. Matt Sanders went two for three with an RBI for the Titans.

Rancho Buena Vista 4, Mt. Carmel 2--RBV’s Chris Gorr scored the go-ahead run off a wild pitch in the fourth inning. George Hadden followed up by scoring on a fielder’s choice, giving RBV (11-3, 5-9) the victory. Mt. Carmel is 7-7.

San Dieguito 8, Torrey Pines 5--Matt Shaffer went three for four with two RBIs and Erik Talbergs went two for four with one RBI to lead San Dieguito. Torrey Pines is now 11-13, 8-6.

Avocado League

San Marcos 8, Carlsbad 1--Fifth-ranked San Marcos (20-3, 14-0) added an unblemished record to the league title it secured a week ago. Justin Woodard came up with two three-run home runs, his seventh and eighth homers on the season, in the second and sixth innings. Jeff Herberts (7-0) gave up two hits in five innings for San Marcos.

San Pasqual 18, Oceanside 2--Ben Duncan went three for three and drove in six runs for San Pasqual (11-12, 8-6). Duncan also hit a two-run homer in the third inning. It was a very good week for Duncan, who was two for two with an RBI Tuesday in a victory against Carlsbad.

Grossmont 3-A League

Granite Hills 4, El Capitan 3--Granite Hills (15-9-1, 7-1) claimed its seventh consecutive victory and the league title.

In the fourth inning with two outs and the bases loaded, John Palmer hit a two-run double to tie the score, 3-3. Chris Boggs then scored the winning run on a wild pitch.

The Granite Hills pitcher, lefthander Tom Fordham, was taken out of the game after being hit by a pitch while batting. The ball hit him on his left wrist.

Helix 5, Mount Miguel 2--It was only his second of the year, but Terry Carter’s three-run homer with no outs broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth. David Shipp struck out five for Helix (15-9, 6-2), which finished second in the league.

Grossmont 2-A League

Grossmont 17, El Cajon Valley 3--The top-ranked Foothillers (25-1, 8-0) went undefeated in league for the second year in a row. Joe Lopez went three for five with three RBIs for Grossmont. Wynter Phoenix and Paul Aceves each had two RBIs and freshman Shannon Monroe went three for four, scored four runs and had one RBI and one stolen base for the Foothillers. Matt Jones (4-0) threw five strikeouts, gave up one hit and no runs in four innings for Grossmont.

Coastal League

Parker 6, La Jolla Country Day 4--Matt McNeill hit a solo homer in the fourth inning to lead Parker (8-3).

Citrus League

Midway Baptist 7, Lutheran 1--Junior Jon Taylor (9-1) has had 92 strikeouts in 59 innings and has a .091 ERA this season for Midway Baptist. Midway Baptist (16-5, 10-2) clinched the league title. Lutheran finished 4-12, 3-9.