Worley Gives Saugus Impetus for Win

Brian Worley had his own ideas about the Big Bang theory.

“I wanted to get this over with and go home,” Worley said.

With one explosive swing of the bat Friday, Worley was on his way.

With two out in the seventh inning, Worley blasted a game-winning, three-run home run to give Saugus High a dramatic 4-1 come-from-behind Golden League baseball victory over visiting Antelope Valley.

“It happened so quickly, I haven’t stepped back to look at it,” Saugus Coach Doug Worley said of his son’s homer.

Saugus (12-3-1, 6-0 in league play) stayed 1 1/2 games ahead of second-place Canyon (6-3), an 8-3 winner over Quartz Hill. The Centurions are scheduled to play three makeup games because of rainouts.

“It surprises me,” Doug Worley said of the Centurions’ lead, “because everyone has been beating everyone.”

Antelope Valley (5-10-1, 3-5) appeared poised for an upset after taking a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning against senior right-hander Bobby Cowan (8-0). Freddie Edwards delivered a soft single to center with two out to drive in Marcus Armstrong from third.

Meanwhile, left-hander Raul McNaughton held Saugus scoreless through five innings, yielding only four singles. However, McNaughton was replaced by left-hander Larry Hunt (1-2) in the sixth and Saugus tied the score, 1-1, on a two-out double by Todd Martin that drove in pinch-runner Jeff Smith from first.

In the seventh, Saugus’ Jayme Riggio drew a one-out walk, then stole second. Justin Miller flied out to Edwards in center field and Chris Hernandez was walked intentionally.

Enter Worley with an itch for a good pitch. Hunt’s first offering was the game’s last.

The home run was the first for Worley, a senior who was sidelined for three weeks this season because of mononucleosis.

The same illness this week sidelined Scott Minkler, the Centurions’ leading hitter with a .500 average (19 for 38).

Add to the Centurions’ woes the loss of third baseman Riggio, whose father died March 9, and it has been a trying season, to say the least.

“I’m struggling a little bit,” Riggio said. “But it’s starting to get a little better.”

Riggio competes with the words “Do it for Dad” printed on the top of his shoes.

Poignantly, Riggio crossed the plate with the winning run, and the first congratulatory hand extended to Worley came from his father in the third-base coaching box.