1977 Baseball: Granite Hills Stays Course, Wins First Title
Granite Hills shook off a tie with Monte Vista, one of the the poorest teams in the County. The deadlock had prevented the Eagles from a championship tie with Helix in the Grossmont League, but the Eagles went on to win their first San Diego Section title.
3/11/77
Granite Hills, a preseason No. 2-ranked in the San Diego Section, stumbled in its season opener, losing, 6-4, to less regarded Clairemont.
The Eagles committed four errors in the first three innings and Clairemont, it its third game, took advantage with a 4-3 lead.
The Chieftains’ Byron Eiler followed with a home run in the fourth inning.
—A two-run double in the eighth inning by Vince Angarola broke a 3-3 tie and was the impetus for No. 7 Carlsbad’s 7-3 win over Poway.
—Jeff Mallon allowed only two hits, tripled in the tying run, and scored the winning run on an error in the top of the seventh as No. 9 La Jolla beat San Dieguito, 2-1.
3/18/77
No. 1-ranked Bonita Vista managed one hit, a run-scoring single by Dave Kinsell, and struggled to a nine-inning, 4-4 tie with Monte Vista in a season opener that was called because of darkness.
—Crawford opened with a 6-0 shutout of Santana, behind the five-hit pitching of right hander Charlie Burkhead and the hitting of catcher Brent Wittmayer, whose home run cleared a 20-foot embankment and 10-foot fence in right field.
A news report declared that Wittmayer’s drive was a not-to-be-believed, paltry 300 feet.
“We’re going to have to scratch and scramble all year, but should have good pitching,” said Colts coach Jerry Tooze.
—Patrick Henry’s Jim Peterson gave up four hits and shut out No. 3 Helix, 3-0, and No. 4 Madison moved to 3-0 with a 3-1 win over Castle Park.
5/11/77
Bob (Rags) Ragland’s no-hitter in a 6-0 win over Marian pushed Bonita Vista closer to the Metropolitan League championship.
—Helix’ Greg Morton struck out 19 El Cajon Valley batters and allowed two hits, but it took Paul Springs’ squeeze bunt that scored Scott Demchak for the game’s only run in the last half of the seventh inning.
—University won its ninth in a row, 9-5 over La Jolla and Kearny claimed a fifth straight, 8-5 over Morse.
5/13/77
David Martinez’ two hits and a triple play helped University to a 5-1 victory over Serra that kept the Dons one game ahead in the Western League.
—Brian Graham’s triple, double, and two singles led Granite Hills to a 6-3 win over Santana and Grossmont beat El Capitan, 6-3.
The winners remained tied for the Grossmont League and El Capitan coach Ed Olsen was not a happy camper, ejected for arguing an interference call on a Vaqueros batter.
—Tim Ellis’ fifth-inning home run was the difference in Kearny’s 4-3 win over Clairemont and maintained the Komets’ one-game lead in the Western League.
5/17/77
Rich Desmond’s two-out single scored Ed Armijo in a 1-0 victory over Mission Bay that allowed the Dons to win the Eastern League championship.
The win gave Uni a two-game lead with one to play over St. Augustine and Mission Bay.
5/18/77
Kearny lost to Point Loma, 4-1, but backed into the Western League title; Crawford and Madison lost to miss tying for the championship, and those two plus Clairemont and Henry deadlocked for second place.
5/19/77
Eastern League vice principals voted for Madison as the circuit’s second San Diego Section playoff team, casting a stink eye at Clairemont, Crawford, and Patrick Henry, which tied the Warhawks, each with an 8-6 loop record, behind Kearny’s 9-5.
5/20/77
Madison (18-6) was ranked No. 1in the Evening Tribune’s Final Top 10. Bonita Vista (17-5-1) won the honor in The San Diego Union.
STANDINGS
*TIE GAME
WESTERN LEAGUE
| LEAGUE | OVERALL | ||||||
| TEAM | WON | LOST | Pct. | GBL | WON | LOST | Pct. |
| University | 12 | 2 | .857 | — | 16 | 6 | .727 |
| St. Augustine | 10 | 4 | .714 | 2 | 12 | 10 | .522 |
| Mission Bay | 9 | 5 | .643 | 3 | 14 | 8 | .636 |
| La Jolla | 8 | 6 | .571 | 4 | 14 | 10 | .583 |
| Hoover | 8 | 6 | .571 | 4 | 12 | 9 | .571 |
| Lincoln | 4 | 10 | .286 | 8 | 6 | 15 | .286 |
| Mira Mesa | 4 | 10 | .286 | 8 | 5 | 15 | .250 |
| Serra | 1 | 13 | .071 | 11 | 3 | 19 | .143 |
EASTERN LEAGUE
| LEAGUE | OVERALL | ||||||
| TEAM | WON | LOST | Pct. | GBL | WON | LOST | Pct. |
| Kearny | 9 | 5 | .643 | — | 14 | 10 | .583 |
| Madison | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | 18 | 6 | .750 |
| Clairemont | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | 13 | 9 | .591 |
| Patrick Henry | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | 14 | 7 | .667 |
| Crawford | 8 | 6 | .571 | 1 | 13 | 9 | .591 |
| Point Loma | 6 | 8 | .429 | 3 | 11 | 13 | .458 |
| Morse | 6 | 8 | .429 | 3 | 12 | 10-1* | .543 |
| San Diego | 3 | 11 | .286 | 6 | 9 | 14 | .391 |
AVOCADO EAST
| LEAGUE | OVERALL | ||||||
| TEAM | WON | LOST | Pct. | GBL | WON | LOST | Pct. |
| San Pasqual | 10 | 2 | .833 | — | 16 | 8 | .667 |
| San Marcos | 10 | 2 | .833 | — | 15 | 7 | .682 |
| Poway | 8 | 4 | .667 | 2 | 9 | 11 | .450 |
| Escondido | 7 | 5 | .583 | 3 | 12 | 10 | .545 |
| Mt. Carmel | 5 | 7 | .415 | 5 | 11 | 13 | .458 |
| Orange Glen | 1 | 11 | .091 | 9 | 3 | 15 | .167 |
| Ramona | 1 | 11 | .091 | 9 | 1 | 21 |
AVOCADO WEST
| LEAGUE | OVERALL | ||||||
| TEAM | WON | LOST | Pct. | GBL | WON | LOST | Pct. |
| Torrey Pines | 11 | 1 | .909 | — | 18 | 4 | .818 |
| Carlsbad | 9 | 3 | .750 | 3 | 16 | 6 | .727 |
| San Dieguito | 7 | 5 | .583 | 4 | 13 | 9 | .591 |
| Oceanside | 5 | 7 | .417 | 6 | 9 | 10 | .474 |
| Fallbrook | 4 | 8 | .333 | 7 | 12 | 9 | .571 |
| Vista | 4 | 8 | .333 | 7 | 6 | 13 | .316 |
| El Camino | 2 | 10 | .167 | 9 | 4 | 13 | .235 |
METROPOLITAN LEAGUE
| LEAGUE | OVERALL | ||||||
| TEAM | WON | LOST | Pct. | GBL | WON | LOST | Pct. |
| Bonita Vista | 16 | 2 | .889 | — | 17 | 5-1* | .761 |
| Marian | 12 | 6 | .667 | 4 | 13 | 9 | .591 |
| Mar Vista | 11 | 7 | .611 | 5 | 14 | 10 | .583 |
| Hilltop | 10 | 8 | .556 | 6 | 12 | 10 | .545 |
| Montgomery | 9 | 9 | .500 | 7 | 10 | 12 | .455 |
| Coronado | 8 | 10 | .444 | 8 | 11 | 12 | .478 |
| Chula Vista | 7 | 10-1* | .417 | 8 ½ | 12 | 11-1* | .520 |
| Sweetwater | 7 | 11 | .389 | 9 | 9 | 14 | .391 |
| San Diego Southwest | 5 | 13 | .278 | 11 | 8 | 15 | .348 |
| Castle Park | 4 | 13-1* | .250 | 11 1/2 | 4 | 17-1 | .250 |
GROSSMONT LEAGUE
| LEAGUE | OVERALL | ||||||
| TEAM | WON | LOST | Pct. | GBL | WON | LOST | Pct. |
| Helix | 11 | 5 | .688 | — | 14 | 9 | .609 |
| Granite Hills | 10 | 5-1* | .656 | ½ | 16 | 7-1* | .688 |
| El Capitan | 9 | 7 | .563 | 2 | 11 | 11 | .500 |
| Grossmont | 9 | 7 | .563 | 2 | 10 | 12 | .455 |
| Valhalla | 8 | 8 | .500 | 3 | 11 | 11 | .500 |
| Mount Miguel | 8 | 8 | .500 | 3 | 10 | 12 | .455 |
| El Cajon Valley | 7 | 9 | .438 | 4 | 10 | 12 | .455 |
| Santana | 6 | 10 | .375 | 5 | 9 | 15 | .375 |
| Monte Vista | 3 | 12-1* | .219 | 7 ½ | 6 | 13-2* | .333 |
5/21/77
2-A PLAYOFFS
San Marcos 3, @Torrey Pines (18-5) 2, @Warren Junior High.
The day’s upset hinged on one play.
The Knights’ Bob Schmautz singled in runners from second and third and kept running after the throw to the plate got past the Falcons’ catcher. Schmautz then drew a wild throw sliding into third base and scored, giving San Marcos a 3-1 lead.
University 7, Madison (18-7) 0, @University of San Diego.
Uni pitcher Mike Thomas allowed two hits, both to leadoff hitter Dennis Brickel.
Kearny 10, St. Augustine (12-11) 2, @USD.
The Komets put together nine hits and seven runs in the third and fourth innings after the Saints took a 1-0 lead.
Carlsbad (16-7) 5, @San Pasqual 6, 10 innings.
El Capitan (11-12) 1, @Helix 2.
Run-scoring singles by Larry Hayes and Phil Strom in the first inning were enough for Dave Ciampoli, who stopped the Vaqueros on four hits.
Hilltop (12-11) 3, @Bonita Vista 10.
Mar Vista (14-11) 4, @Marian 5, nine innings.
Granite Hills 3, Grossmont (10-13) 2-0.
Lefthander Bill Demo gave up six singles, did not allow a runner past second base, and won his ninth game for the Eagles.
5/23/77
QUARTERFINALS
Helix-San Marcos, @Palomar College, postponed, rain.
San Pasqual-Granite Hills, @Grossmont College, postponed, rain.
Bonita Vista-University, @Hoover, postponed, rain.
Kearny 10, Marian (13-10) 7, @San Diego.
Kearny scored three times to break 7-7 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning and shortstop Jimbo Harris, the Komets’ football quarterback, singled twice, doubled, and walked.
5/24/77
Bonita Vista 2, University (17-7) 0, @Hoover.
San Marcos 3, Helix (15-10) 2, @Palomar College.
Jack Thomas pitched the victory and drove in the winning run.
Granite Hills 9, San Pasqual (17-9) 4, @Grossmont College.
1-A SEMIFINALS
Francis Parker (15-1) gave up two runs in the first inning, but moved on with a 5-3 victory over visiting Mountain Empire.
5/25/77
Army-Navy 1, @Christian 9.
The Patriots gave up a run but Dave Carpenter pitched a no-hitter.
5/26/77
SEMIFINALS
Kearny 5, San Marcos (17-8) 2, @Palomar College.
A throwing error by Bonita Vista attempting to complete a double play opened the door for Kearny to break 1-1 tie in the seventh inning.
“We didn’t have a lot of hits today, but we hit the ball hard at people, so I’m not discouraged (by) our offense today,” said Komets coach Jack Taylor.
Granite Hills 5, Bonita Vista (19-5-1) 1, @Southwestern College.
Henry Coleman was touched for five hits and the Barons did not score on the Granite Hills right-hander until an Eagles error with two outs in the seventh inning.
“I had good control of my curve today and I was able to keep the ball outside,” said Coleman, who had been tagged with all losses in Granite Hills’ 11-5 league record.
Coleman’s teammates gave him a two-run lead in the third inning.
“Some of the games I’ve lost have been 0-0 in the late innings, but with these hitters I knew they could explode at any time,” Coleman said of Granite’s 22-hit attack, led by a single and double by Shawn Davidson that was responsible for three runs.
CHAMPIONSHIP
1-A
Christian 2, Francis Parker (15-2) 1, at University San Diego.
Dan Besieger scored from second base on a fielder’s choice for the winning run in the seventh inning.
2-A
Granite Hills (20-7-1) 8, Kearny (17-11) 4, @USD.
A seven-hits, five-run sixth inning broke a 3-3 tie for the title-bound Eagles.
Mike Vint doubled, Gary Hanson walked, and Duane Antijuntti, Pat Jackson, Glenn Stemmer, Dale Hanson, and Brian Graham singled to close out the scoring. Gary Hanson had tied the game in the fourth inning with a two-run, 380-foot home run.