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Published on 03/23/1998 All articles from this issue

It's a make-or-break week for Mountain View

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By Craig Wentz

Special to the Town Crier

If the Mountain View High baseball team has any shot at a league title or a playoff berth this season, it must avoid mistakes and not yield the big inning.

Last Thursday against division foe Saratoga, the Spartans (4-3, 6-4 overall) did the exact opposite. They committed four errors, managed only four hits and gave up seven runs in the fourth inning in a 12-2 home loss.

The setback dropped Mountain View a game behind first-place teams Monta Vista (5-2) and Gunn (5-2) in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division.

With games against both these teams this week, it's make-or-break time for the Spartans.

Mountain View played Gunn on Tuesday and hosts Monta Vista at 3:30 p.m. Thursday. The Spartans cannot allow themselves to be swept by the Titans and Matadors if they hope to contend.

However, a sweep of both teams could do wonders for Mountain View's title hopes.

First-year coach Todd Leanues doesn't see any tremendous strengths or glaring weaknesses with this year's team, but he would like to see consistency.

"If there's a strength, it's pitching, and our hitting is coming around," Leanues said. "And there are weaknesses in all areas, but you always have that."

Robby Parfett (2-2, 1.72 ERA), Michael Caldwell (2-2) and James Richter are the Spartans' top trio of pitchers. They will have to remain consistent and pitch quality innings if Mountain View hopes to reach the postseason.

Of course, the offense will have to support the pitching staff. Brian Cordero (.444 average, .727 slugging percentage), John Eddington (.375 average), Chris Ashley and Caldwell (.333) are some of the batters that need to produce timely hits for Mountain View.

Against Saratoga (4-3) last week, the Spartans never maintained any continuity.

Trailing just 2-1 after three innings, the Falcons sealed the game with the big seven-run fourth. They then added three runs in the sixth to enforce the 10-run "mercy rule."

Caldwell suffered the loss. The Spartans only extra-base hit was a double by Ashley.

Eagles fall to Matadors

Los Altos High dropped a 6-4 decision to first-place Monta Vista in an SCVAL El Camino Division game March 24.

The host Matadors broke open a 1-1 game in the fourth inning, scoring four runs off two Eagle errors.

"It was a real tough loss," said Los Altos coach Sandy Wihtol. "It was a devastating defeat for the guys."

Despite pitching six solid innings for the Eagles, pitcher Adam Hopkins took the loss.

"Adam pitched a great game," Wihtol said. "He was a real workhorse."

Other Los Altos highlights included Jamie Nolte's two hits and Dino Quintero's two-run double.

Lancers lose to Bells

St. Francis High fell 5-2 to rival Bellarmine last Friday in Mountain View.

Ace hurler Jason Luker took the loss for the Lancers. St. Francis' only extra-base hit was a double by Joe McCarthy

The Lancers entered the week with a 2-2 record in the West Catholic Athletic League and were 8-2 overall. Bellarmine was 3-0, 6-4.

Homestead passes Paly

Homestead High beat visiting Palo Alto 6-5 last Friday.

James Park earned the win for the Mustangs and teammate Andy Myers had three hits.

The Mustangs improved to 3-4 in SCVAL De Anza Division.