05.16.08 BASEBALL ROUNDUP

CATS PROWL TO SECOND ROUND

The Cats (21-5-1) broke open a scoreless duel in the sixth inning at home as Malcolm Lee and Marcos Ramos delivered run-scoring hits against the Aztecs (15-10). Kaiser broke open a scoreless game in the sixth with run-scoring hits from Malcolm Lee and Marcos Ramos to defeat visiting Palm Desert 3-0 Thursday in a CIF-SS Division IV first-round baseball playoff game.
Kaiser's Ernie Rodriguez and Palm Desert's Nick Baker matched scoreless innings until the sixth. Frankie Valenzuela singled for the Cats (21-5-1) in that inning and moved up when Zach Tapia was hit by a pitch. Lee and Ramos knocked both players in, while <NO1>and a passed ball<NO>Lavell Mann was also hit a pitch to force in the third run.
Rodriguez scattered four singles and did not allow a runner past second. He retired 14 of the last 16 Aztecs (15-10) he faced, and he picked off the pair that reached first.

DIVISION V
Azusa 8, Aquinas 5
Aquinas took an early 2-0 lead, but the game slipped away late as Azusa scored five in fifth and three more in the sixth to seal the victory.
A bases-loaded, infield pop-up broke the game open in the sixth. The ball dropped and the runner from third scored. The runner from second followed after an errant throw to home plate got away.
Joe Bigler had a double and Jimmy Jones a triple in the losing effort for Aquinas.

Sultana 6, Duarte 1
Trevor Haas drove in two runs and scored one for the Sultans (19-6). Mike Mierish earned the victory on the mound for his seventh straight victory for Sultana, which advanced to the second round for the third year in a row.

DIVISION VII
Upland Christian 19, Ventura Christian 0
Matt Johnston (7-2) threw a no-hitter, with 13 strikeouts, and the Eagles (16-10) scored in five different innings to eliminate the Stars (7-11).
Ethan Chapman had three hits, including a homer, and batted in five runs to lead a 11-hit attack. James Spraggins batted in two runs on two hits while Richie Pastor had three hits and three RBI.