MV jumps all over LA 14-7 MV jumps all over LA 14-7 (April 08, 2005)

Eagle pitchers issue 9 walks, 6 wild pitches

By Scott Campbell

Patience at the plate and sturdy defense in the field proved to be a winning combination for Mountain View in its April 4 game with De Anza Division rival Los Altos. The Spartans rode nine walks to a season-high in runs scored, defeating the winless Eagles 14-7.

"The walks really help," said Mountain View first baseman Dustin Johnson, who turned his three walks into three runs. "They really get people pumped up and looking for their pitch to hit."

While Mountain View was opportunistic, scoring 14 runs on only nine hits, the Eagles struggled by leaving 10 runners on base.

The host Spartans (4-8 overall, 3-3 league) didn't wait long to grab the lead they would never relinquish. Shortstop Will Evenson led off Mountain View's first at bat with a soaring home run to left-center, a shot that sparked his team to a 3-0 first-inning lead.

"The home run set a tempo and we just built off that and kept it going," said Evenson, who finished 2-3 with three RBIs.

The Eagles, who started five sophomores, closed the gap to 3-2 with a third-inning rally. After Isaac Wilhelm drew a one-out walk, Doug Gale executed a hit-and-run single to set the table for clean-up hitter Kellen McColl. The catcher hit a sharp two-out single to left, knocking in both his teammates and bringing Los Altos to within 3-2.

The Eagles (0-10 overall, 0-5 league) would get no closer.

Spartans designated hitter Joe Hatasaki led off the third inning with a drag-bunt single, and then third baseman Jon Warmbrodt followed with an eight-pitch at bat that resulted in a walk. Los Altos starter Kyle Tachibana surrendered two more singles and another walk, leading to five more Mountain View runs, before being relieved by fellow sophomore Jason Craine.

"My location kind of slipped away and they started hitting the ball hard," said Tachibana, who allowed eight runs in 2-1/3 innings. "[The walks are] very frustrating because you're just basically giving them the runs."

Hatasaki connected on a two-out double that drove in two more runs and pushed the score to 10-2 before Craine could get Los Altos out of the inning.

Meanwhile, Mountain View starter Jason Marshalla kept out of trouble by letting his defense do its job.

"I think our defense really was what carried us today," said Spartans coach Dave Salter. "You get a couple of good defensive plays in a half inning ... you've got momentum on your side after that."

Sure enough, after Lee's lunge and acrobatic throw prevented a sure fourth-inning single by Eagles infielder Peter Moore, the Mountain View offense struck again later that inning.

Spartans rightfielder Tommie Bommarito hammered a two-run home run, his first of the season and one of two round-trippers he hit on the day.

"I've been waiting to hit one out for I don't know how many games now," said Bommarito, who finished 3-3 with three runs and four RBIs. "I finally got it off my back."

Trailing 12-2, Los Altos finally began to solve Marshalla with solo home runs in the fifth inning by Wilhelm and Devin Matthews. The bottom of the Eagles lineup pushed across another two runs in the sixth, but it was too little, too late.

With four Los Altos pitchers combining to issue nine walks and throw six wild pitches, the Eagles can only hope that the payoff will be down the road.

"It's only going to help us in the future to get these kids some experience and they're going to play well for us," said Eagles coach Sandy Wihtol. "We're seeing better things from [the sophomores] every step of the way, but it's a tough ride right now."

Having already defeated Los Altos 8-2 on March 9, Mountain View was thrilled to top its crosstown rival again.

"Every time, it's a big game, no matter what the final score is," said Johnson. "It's a battle to the last out."

The teams return to action on April 8 when Mountain View hosts Milpitas and Los Altos visits Wilcox.
E-mail Scott Campbell at sports@mv-voice.com

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