BASEBALL: Rams, Wildcats prepare for showdown

Friday's Baseball Schedule

Rio Hondo League
Monrovia at Temple City, 3:30 p.m.
La Canada at San Marino, 3:30 p.m.

Pacific League
Hoover at Pasadena, 3:15 p.m.
Glendale at Arcadia, 3:15 p.m.

Almont League
Alhambra at Bell Gardens, 3:15 p.m.
San Gabriel at Montebello, 3:15 p.m.
Schurr at Keppel, 3:15 p.m.

By Scott Galetti, Staff Writer
Today's weather forecast doesn't call for thunder or lightning in the area.
But there should be plenty of electricity at Temple City High School's baseball field when the Rams host defending Rio Hondo League champion Monrovia at 3:30 p.m.
"Monrovia-Temple City is always huge," said Monrovia pitcher Richard Kilbury (5-0), who will start today's game. "The stands are always full and there's so much energy, it's unbelievable, and you don't know what it's like until you've played in it."
Both teams are on a mission to win the league title and make a run at the CIF-Southern Section Division V championship.
Monrovia (8-2, 4-0) is the last unbeaten team left in league play while Temple City (9-2, 4-1) is a half-game behind.
Both schools are well aware of the importance of getting past one another in order to do so.
"A lot of our kids know each other and play ball together on a travel ball team or whatever and Coach (Barry) Bacon was a JV coach here many years ago, so we've known coach Bacon a long time," Moore said. "It's just Monrovia-Temple City and that's all you need to know."
Kilbury expects the Rams to be eager at the plate.
"I just have to go out there and make pitches and get ahead of batters, and try to make them put the ball in play so the defense can help me out," Kilbury said.
Brian Dearth (3-0 with two saves) will take the mound for the Rams.
"I don't think we've seen his best yet," Bacon said. "He leads the Valley in strikeouts (44), but we haven't seen the heights that he can reach. As good as he's been, there's more to come."
Monrovia swept the three-game series a year ago, 9-3, 11-9 and 3-2.
"We can't be afraid to be aggressive," Bacon said. "We need to put as much pressure on them as they put on other teams.
"The team that does execute is going to win the game."

TITANS NEED WIN
After dropping two consecutive tough games to Temple City and Monrovia, San Marino hosts La Canada (6-4, 1-3) today at 3:30 p.m.
The Titans can take over sole possession of third place in league with a victory.
A loss, however, will put them in a group with the Spartans and South Pasadena in the battle for the Rio Hondo League's final guaranteed spot.