SPORTS ROUNDUP: La Cañada leaves tying run at third in loss to Monrovia
BASEBALL
Monrovia 4, La Cañada 3: The Spartans came close to another dramatic victory over the Wildcats, but left the tying runner at third in the bottom of the seventh at La Cañada High.
Johnny Selsor started the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single and a hit-and-run single from Scott Moulin (two for three) put runners at the corners with one out.
Justin Lewis, who reached on a fielder’s choice, then scored from third on a double steal. Moulin took third on a grounder to second but was left standing there on a game-ending strikeout.
The loss leaves La Cañada (9-5, 4-2 in league) and Monrovia (13-3, 4-2) tied atop the league standings with six games remaining for both teams.
“I’m proud of my guys, I think we battled,” first-year La Cañada Coach Alex Valadez said. “We don’t give up, we’re different. I’m proud of these guys, I’m proud of every single one.”
Still, Valadez admitted it wasn’t his team’s best game. The Spartans, who had seven hits, batted one for 10 with runners in scoring position, stranded 11 runners, six in scoring position and saw the Wildcats score their final two runs on miscues.
“I just think we’ve got to tighten that up a little bit,” Valadez said. “You can’t make that many mistakes in a game, especially against a good team, and expect to win.”
Trailing, 2-0, going into the bottom of the sixth, La Cañada tied the game after Daniel del Valle and Joshua Yoon logged consecutive one-out hits — a pinch-hit double and single, respectively.
Del Valle scored on a perfectly-placed sacrifice bunt from Jacon Yonan. Yoon came home on a Monrovia throwing error.
Monrovia took another two-run lead, 4-2, thanks to a La Cañada error after a dropped third strike and passed ball in the top of the seventh.
Clayton Herrmann and Lewis also had singles for La Cañada, which received four innings of scoreless pitching from starter Anthony Mizrahi.
Sherman Oaks Notre Dame 9, St. Francis 4: The host Golden Knights fell Friday in a Mission League contest at Jackie Robinson Field. St. Francis dropped to 0-6 in league.
BOYS’ TENNIS
La Cañada 12, South Pasadena 6: Singles player Joshua Kim (6-0, 6-0, 6-1) and Ryan Lee (6-4, 6-0, 6-0) swept for the Spartans, who improved to 11-1, 5-1 in the Rio Hondo League Friday at home.
SOFTBALL
Rio Hondo Prep 13, Flintridge Prep 3: Ashley Kim drove in a pair of runs Friday for the visiting Rebels in a Prep League contest. Flintridge Prep dipped to 1-9, 0-4 in league.
BOYS’ GOLF
La Cañada 189, San Marino 201: Collin Morikawa earned medalist honors with a one-under 33 for the Spartans Thursday at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club. Gator Stehlin carded a 35 and Adam Horne added a 40 for the Spartans, who improved to 12-1, 5-0 in the Rio Hondo League.