Rix, Eagles Rally to Sweep Mater Dei

The Santa Margarita baseball team’s interpretation of the Golden Rule seems to be “Do unto others as others have done unto you.”

After being swept in their four-game Serra League season series against Bellflower St. John Bosco, the Eagles did likewise to Mater Dei.

Santa Margarita completed the unprecedented sweep Saturday at Mater Dei, rallying from a 7-0 deficit to beat the Monarchs, 12-8, and remain in the hunt for the Serra League’s second and final playoff berth.

Chris Rix hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in six runs for the Eagles (12-8, 5-5), who now trail second-place Mater Dei by a half-game with two games remaining, both against last-place Servite.

The Monarchs (15-9, 5-4) have three games remaining, two against first-place St. John Bosco and one against Servite.

Santa Margarita Coach Tip Lefevbre contends his team still has its work cut out to qualify for the playoffs, but he did take a moment to relish in Saturday’s victory.

“I never thought [a season sweep] would happen against Mater Dei,” he said. “You hope coming in to get a split in the four games. That’s a good club over there with a lot of tradition.”

The Monarchs appeared to have quashed the Eagles’ hopes for a sweep early Saturday, scoring seven runs in the second inning. But Santa Margarita got three back in the third on Rix’s two-run home run and Mike Beattie’s run-scoring single.

Meanwhile, Rob Williams entered the game in relief of Santa Margarita starter Matt Wilkerson in the third and proceeded to retire 15 of 19 batters he faced.

With Williams putting up zeros, the Eagles stormed into the lead with a six-run fifth inning. Wilkerson belted a two-run home run and Beattie singled to knock Mater Dei starter Richard Mercado out of the game. Anthony Slama relieved and gave up a single to Williams before striking out Matt Rocheleau and Matt Woolley.

Eric Brock drew a walk, loading the bases for Rix. After working the count to 3-2, Rix leaned over the plate and drove Slama’s curveball over the right-field fence for a grand slam, giving the Eagles a 9-8 lead.

“I was waiting on deck [while Brock was batting] praying, ‘Just let me get up to the plate, I’ll take care of the rest,’ ” Rix said.

The Eagles tacked on insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, but Rix’s homer gave Williams (3-0) all the support he needed as the senior right-hander earned the victory with five innings of two-hit pitching.

Wilkerson and Brock, who reached base in all four trips to the plate, each scored three runs.

In another Serra League game:

Servite 8, Bellflower St. John Bosco 5--Pete Eastman and Doug Middleton hit home runs in the sixth inning to break open a close game and provide the margin of victory for host Servite (7-15, 2-7).

With the loss, St. John Bosco (16-6, 7-3) wasted an opportunity to clinch at least a tie for the league title.

Ryan Ponce pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out five, to get the win for the Friars.