Local Team Triumphs in CABA World Series

The San Diego Rookies won two games Saturday and improved their record to 3-1 with one day remaining in pool play at the Continental Amateur Baseball Assn. World Series in Laredo, Tex.

The Rookies, a team of area high school players age 16 and younger, are representing California in the tournament.

Both of Saturday’s victories--9-0 over Puerto Rico and 9-1 over Washington--came in shortened games because of an eight-run mercy rule.

Matt Linn pitched the first game and gave up only two hits before the game was called after five innings.

He was helped offensively by a solo home run from Marty Camacho in the fourth inning and by a two-RBI single from Jamie Jones in the third.

In the second game, Mario Sanchez allowed only one hit before the game was called after six innings.

Mario Sanchez had the big hit, a two-run homer in the fourth that tournament director Juan Carreon called the longest of the tournament. Carreon estimated the ball landed more than 410 feet from home plate.

Camacho went two for two in the second victory and scored twice.

The San Diego Sox, playing in the AAU Junior Olympics at Rochester, Minn., took an 11-1 decision over Minneapolis in the opening game for both teams. The game was called after six innings because of a 10-run mercy rule.

Spike Lundberg of Mira Mesa pitched all six innings and did not allow an earned run.

Offensively, Alex Lontayo of Castle Park went two for four and drove in four runs, Chris Lilly of Mira Mesa went two for three and drove in three runs, and Ray Plummer of Point Loma was three for three with two RBIs.

BOWLING

The U.S. national bowling team will be decided this week during a tournament at Chula Vista’s Brunswick Premier Lanes, where the country’s top amateur bowlers will compete.

Competition begins today.

The field consists of 168 bowlers representing all 50 states, according to the U.S. Tenpin Bowling Federation, the sport’s national governing body. The top six men and women finishers will become members of Team USA, and the leading man and woman will be named Amateur Bowlers of the Year.

Among those expected to compete are Dan Nadeau and Rod McLean of Las Vegas, Harry Mickelson of Kodiak, Alaska; Pat Healey Jr. of Niagara Falls, N.Y.; Julie Gardner of Huntington Beach, Lynda Norry of Concord and Lucy Giovinco of Atlanta.