Saturday, Apr. 12, 2008

High school roundup: Modesto, Johansen shake up MMC baseball

The Modesto High and Johansen High baseball teams turned the Modesto Metro Conference upside down Friday afternoon.

At Beyer, Modesto beat the Patriots, previously undefeated in league play, 3-2 with two runs in the top of the seventh inning.

And at Davis, Johansen pulled back into the playoff race with a 4-3 win over the Spartans in eight innings.

Beyer (12-7, 6-1) remains atop the MMC standings, a game ahead of Davis (14-5, 5-2) and two games ahead of Johansen (8-11, 4-3).

MODESTO 3, BEYER 2, at Beyer -- The Panthers (4-13, 2-5 MMC) erased a 2-1 lead with two runs in the top of the seventh. The Patriots committed an error with one out, Chipper Lemmo doubled and a run scored when the relay was overthrown. Lemmo, representing the go-ahead run, came in on a wild pitch.

"This was a huge win for us," Modesto coach Daryl Galloway said. "Probably the biggest win since I've been here. I can't recall the last time Modesto beat Beyer in a baseball game."

JOHANSEN 4, DAVIS 3 (8), at Davis -- The Vikings (8-11, 4-3) toppled the Spartans (14-4, 5-2) in their second eight-inning game this week. On Wednesday, Davis won in eight innings.

Friday, Johansen scored the winning run when Julian Castaneda singled to lead off the eighth inning. A pickoff throw caught him off first, but he moved to second when an error was committed during the rundown. Davis tried a pickoff play at second base, but the ball was thrown away, moving Castaneda to third; the throw to third base bounced into the Davis dugout, scoring Castaneda.

Davis rallied in the bottom of the inning when Michael Creamer doubled with two outs, but his pinch runner was thrown out at third base.

"This was as important a team win as we've had this season," Johansen coach Jim Davis said. "We needed this one."

DOWNEY 6, ENOCHS 4, at Downey -- The Knights (4-13-2, 2-5 MMC) went up 5-3 with a four-run second inning against the Eagles (7-12, 2-5).

After two walks, an Alex Wurm double, Cody Shannon's sacrifice fly, a single by Kirk Rocha and a bloop double by Ryan Hamilton all plated runs.

OAKDALE 1, CENTRAL VALLEY 0, at Oakdale -- Dante Major doubled in the winning run in the bottom of the sixth as the Mustangs (14-2-3, 6-0 VOL) and pitcher Nick VanderTuig blanked the Hawks (1-5 VOL).

VanderTuig threw a two-hitter. He struck out eight and walked two, facing the minimum 18 batters through six innings, in outdueling Martin Gomez. No CV runner got past first.

MANTECA 10, SIERRA 6, at Manteca -- Ricky Acosta and Robbie Lewis had three RBIs in helping the Buffaloes (9-9-1, 3-3 VOL) top the Timberwolves (13-5, 5-1). Andy Scott had a triple and two doubles for Sierra.

PATTERSON 1, ORESTIMBA 0, at Patterson -- David Gonzales won a pitchers' duel with Matt Mota as the Tigers (3-4 WAC) pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh. Josh Mendoza walked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Anthony Sanchez, to third on a passed ball and scored on Daniel Kifle's line-drive single to center.

Gonzales struck out 10 Warriors (1-6 WAC). Both pitchers allowed three hits.

CENTRAL CATHOLIC 14, GUSTINE 3, at Gustine -- Billy Flamion hit a solo home run in the first inning, spearheading a nine-hit attack as the Raiders (7-0 WAC) rolled past the Redskins (9-6, 4-3). Flamion scored four runs.

WATERFORD 7, TURLOCK CHR. 3, at Waterford -- Freshman Russell Longworth settled down after allowing three runs in the second and went six innings in pitching the Wildcats (7-9, 4-3 SL) past TC (2-5 SL). He walked six but allowed just two hits.