1975 Baseball: Hoover Coach Moves On After Third Section Championship

Jerry Bartow ended a 14-season run at Hoover with his third San Diego Section championship and with an overall record of 226-119 (.656) then headed off to Southwestern College, where the Apaches won more than 900 games in the next 39 years before Bartow retired in 2014.

Until Ted Williams Field was built on the Hoover campus in 1967, the Cardinals, like other city schools, played baseball in a football stadium, with peculiar boundaries and ground rules.

Youthful Bartow, 26, was named Hoover coach in 1962.

Bartow took advantage of the at least 500 feet to the leftfield fence, which bordered Monroe Avenue, by creating a more reasonable distance for home runs.

The Hoover coach installed hurdles borrowed from the track team as a leftfield “fence”, moving them forward or backward depending on the prowess and power of his opponent’s hitters.

According to Wikipedia, Bartow‘s stepfather was Carl Mays, 207-126 in a 15-year major league pitching career and who was on the mound when Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman was beaned by a pitch in 1920 and succumbed from a fractured skull the next day.

Pitcher Brad Griffith was surrounded by Hoover teammates after victory in playoff semifinals, but pitcher Kirk Tronerud, attempting to help Griffith stay upright, sustained severe spike wound to his left hand. Tronerud managed to pitch the Cardinals to the championship the next day.

5/13/75

Joe Vido walked, stole second base, and scored on Kyle Montague’s single to give Coronado a 4-3 win over Poway that ended the Coast League-leading Titans’ 13-game winning streak.

—Don Moyer restricted Helix to five hits and drove in seven runs with a single and grand-slam home run in El Cajon Valley’s 11-4 victory.

—Roger DePriest of San Diego pitched a complete-game, 17-inning contest at Madison, but came away with nothing to show.

The Western League squads played to a 2-2, no-decision.  Umpires called the game because of  darkness.

Mike Free pitched the first six innings for the Warhawks and Rich Leahy the last 11.

5/14/75

Poway was on a two-game losing streak, 10-2 victim of San Dieguito, whose John Lazerich cuffed the Titans on six hits

—Hoover moved closer to an Eastern League championship, winning, 12-4, at Crawford.

Daryl McGee’s leadoff home run in the sixth inning broke a 4-4 tie and opened a five-run outburst for the Cardinals, who also were supported by Johnny Davis and Dexter Redd home runs.

5/16/75

Clairemont wrapped the Western League championship, scoring four runs in the last three innings to win at Kearny, 5-4.  Hoover claimed the Eastern League championship, 7-1, at St. Augustine.

—Vic March’s seventh-inning home run was the difference in El Capitan’s 6-5 win over visiting Grossmont and left the Vaqueros with a 12-3 Grossmont League record, a half game better than the Foothillers. Winning pitcher Jay Hostetler hit a two-run home run.

“I wouldn’t go so far as calling it a grudge match,” said El Capitan coach Eddie Olsen in response to an observation from Bill Polk of the Evening Tribune, “but I’ve never seen this bunch so high spirited as they were after reading Gray’s remarks in the press.”

Grossmont coach Bill Gray had said that if Grossmont played El Capitan 10 times a season “we’d win probably win eight out of 10 times.”

Gray refused to talk to writers after the game (“I have nothing to say”) and responded with a terse “no comment”, to questions.

Catcher Jim Maisey reveled in the home run by Mike McEwan that was essential in Granite Hills’ 5-3 victory over Grossmont.

5/20/75

Dave Holston allowed one hit, hit a home run and pitched Poway to the Coast League championship, 6-0, at La Jolla.

—Rain played havoc in the Avocado League, postponing three games.  A four-way tie for the championship could necessitate play-in games to determine the three teams to represent the loop in the playoffs, which were to begin in five days.

—Ken Pryce hurled a no-hitter and Ken Rutar drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning as Mar Vista edged Hilltop, 1-0.

—Castle Park jumped Bonita Vista on the road and its 16-5 win tied the Barons for first in the Metropolitan League, each with a 9-4 record.
A two-run, first inning by the Barons evaporated when the Trojans erupted for 10 runs in the third.
Castle Park’s 15 hits included two doubles, two triples, and home runs, by Mark Snyder, Steve Thomas, and Tony Yaptangeo.

5/21/75

Patrick Henry defeated Morse, 2-0, on Steve Sherman’s five-hitter, forcing a playoff the next day for an Eastern League playoff berth.  The teams ended the regular season with 8-8 loop records.

—Dexter Redd was 5 for 5 and Kirk Tronerud allowed five hits in Hoover’s 13-0 victory over Lincoln, giving the Cardinals with a 13-3 league record.

5/22/75

SAN DIEGO SECTION 1-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Francis Parker sophomore Lee Carson struck out 10 and allowed four hits in pitching the Lancers to a 6-0 victory over Christian.

Dave Cook was 3 for 3 with three runs batted in for the Southern League Coastal Division champions.

—Pete Parsons’ two-run home run gave Santana an 8-7 win over El Cajon Valley.  Parsons’ hit overcame a Braves lead in the bottom of the 18th inning, following continuation of an earlier contest that was suspended after 16 innings.

Santana then won the regularly scheduled nightcap at El Cajon, 3-1, to finish with an 8-8 Grossmont League record.

—Mike McEwen’s home run in the fourth inning was the significant blow in a 5-3 Granite Hills victory over Grossmont that coupled with El Capitan’s 3-1 win over Valhalla gave the Vaqueros the Grossmont League title.

Dave Holston and Randy Long (from left) were Poway pitching stalwarts.

5/26/75

SAN DIEGO SECTION PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

Patrick Henry (13-12) 0, @Hilltop 1.

Writer Bill Polk described the Hilltop Lancers as being “engulfed by an air of spellbound euphoria” after their victory and as a “gutsy squad of suburban lads who could hardly believe the scoreboard after the final out.”

Willard McPherson’s first-inning triple scored Eric Linderman and was the difference in the game, played in one-hour and nine minutes.

The Lancers’ Jerry Caposs (6-4), backed by an outstanding defense, gave up five hits and kept the defending CIF champion Patriots at a distance, winning a duel with Steve Sherman (7-5), who allowed only two hits.

Point Loma (14-9) 0, @San Dieguito 1.

Webber’s home run in the sixth inning and Lazarich’s one-hit pitching provided another suburban team with victory over a city squad.

5/27/75

REGULAR-SEASON STANDINGS

EASTERN

  LEAGUE OVERALL
Team Won Lost Pct. GBL Won Lost Pct.
Hoover 13 3 .829 18 5 .783
Crawford 9 7 .563 3 ½ 15 8 .652
Morse 8 8 .500 5 14 9 .609
Patrick Henry 8 8 .500 5 12 11 .522
Lincoln 6 10 .375 7 8 15 .348
St. Augustine 3 13 .171 10 4 19 .174

WESTERN

  LEAGUE OVERALL
Team Won Lost Pct. GBL Won Lost Pct.
Clairemont 13 3 .829 18 4 .778
Kearny 11 5 .688 2 15 6 .714
Point Loma 10 6 .625 3 14 8 .636
Madison 8 7 .533 4 ½ 12 12 .500
University 6 10 .375 7 10 13 .435
San Diego 1 14 .067 13 ½ 2 15 .118

GROSSMONT

  LEAGUE OVERALL
Team Won Lost Pct. GBL Won Lost Pct.
El Capitan 13 3 .829 18 6 .750
Grossmont 12 4 .750 1 16 6 .727
Granite Hills 9 7 .563 4 10 10 .500
Santana 8 8 .500 5 16 9 .640
Monte Vista 7 9 .438 6 12 10 .522
Mount Miguel 7 9 .438 6 11 11 .500
El Cajon Valley 7 9 .563 6 11 12 .478
Helix 6 10 .375 7 9 14 .391
Valhalla 3 13 .171 10 6 14 .300

METROPOLITAN

  LEAGUE OVERALL
Team Won Lost Pct. GBL Won Lost Pct.
Bonita Vista 10 4 .714 16 7 .696
Castle Park 9 5 .643 1 14 8 .636
Hilltop 9 5 .643 1 12 10 .522
Montgomery 9 5 .643 1 11 8 .579
Mar Vista 8 6 .571 2 10 11 .476
Sweetwater 4 10 .286 6 5 17 .222
Chula Vista 4 10 .286 6 ½ 7 14 .333
Marian 3 11 .214 7 4 17 .190

AVOCADO

  LEAGUE OVERALL
Team Won Lost Pct. GBL Won Lost Pct.
San Marcos 10 4 .714 15 7 .682
Vista 10 4 .714 15 7 .682
Fallbrook 10 4 .714 11 9 .550
Carlsbad 9 5 .643 1 15 9 .625
San Pasqual 6 8 .429 4 11 11 .500
Oceanside 6 8 .429 4 11 12 .478
Escondido 4 10 .286 6 5 17 .223
Orange Glen 1 13 .071 9 5 16 .238

COAST

  LEAGUE OVERALL
Team Won Lost Pct. GBL Won Lost Pct.
Poway 16 2 .889 19 4 .826
San Dieguito 12 6 .667 4 15 7 .682
Mission Bay 12 6 .667 4 14 9 .609
La Jolla 10 8 .556 6 10 12 .455
Coronado 8 10 .444 8 10 12 .455
Torrey Pines 4 14 .222 12 4 21 .160
Ramona 1 17 0.56 15 1 19 0.46

 Hilltop (13-10) 0, @Clairemont 8.

Steve Blackman’s no-hitter, plus his three-run homer in the sixth inning, elevated the Chieftains to their first postseason victory since 1971.

The Blackman (8-1) home run was his sixth and he drove in another run with a sacrifice fly.

Grossmont 2, @Vista (15-8) 0, 12 innings.

Losing pitcher Rick Somers went the distance and struck out 13, but was beaten by Charlie Prokop’s run-scoring single.

Castle Park 7, @Poway (19-5) 2.

Poway outhit Castle Park, 4-2, but committed eight errors.

Fallbrook (11-10) 3, @Hoover 4.

Granite Hills (10-11) 0, @Kearny 5.

Mission Bay (14-10) 3, @Bonita Vista 4, 8 innings.

Tony Camara’s home run sent the game into extra innings and Camara won it with a run-scoring single.

Crawford 4, @San Marcos (15-8) 3.

San Dieguito (16-8) 1, @El Capitan 2-1.

Jay Hostetler’s walk-off home run in the last of the seventh inning augmented the five-hit pitching of Mike Finch.

Clairemont’s Steve Blackman finished circling bases after three-run home run that was accompanied by his no-hit pitching in playoff win.

5/28/75

QUARTERFINALS

El Capitan (19-7), 2, Crawford 8, @Grossmont College.

Crawford’s Alvin Edge struck out 12 and was reached for only two hits.

Bonita Vista 7, Kearny (16-7) 3, @Mesa College.

Grossmont (17-7) 6, @Clairemont 8.

 Hoover 3, @Castle Park (15-9) 0.

5/30/75

SEMIFINALS

Crawford (17-9), 3, Bonita Vista 7, @University of San Diego,

Hoover 5, Clairemont (21-5) 1, @Mesa College.

Brad Griffith pitched a four-hitter and the Cardinals broke open the game with four runs in the sixth inning.

Tye Waller doubled in two runs in the big sixth and Hoover outfielders Dexter Redd, John Wells, and John Davis made several defensive plays.

“I think we’ve all got the playoff fever,” Hoover coach Jerry Bartow said of the Cardinals’ advance to the big game for the sixth time in nine seasons.

“The guys have played errorless ball, they’re hitting well, and we’re getting great pitching,” said Bartow.  “Griffith…mixed his pitches well.  He stayed cool even when they were hitting shots to the outfield.”

5/31/75

CHAMPIONSHIP

Hoover (22-5) 11, Bonita Vista (19-8) 4, @San Diego Stadium.

The Cardinals won their 11th straight and first title since 1969 as Kirk Tronerud (12-2), who was severely spiked on his non-pitching hand the day before during the celebration after the semifinals win, scattered five hits.

The Barons mustered a leadoff triple by Don Slater in the first inning, but Tronerud was backed by five extra base hits, three doubles and two triples, against losing pitcher Wally Hirst (10-3).

“We’ve been telling people that we had a great ball club all season but a lot of folks didn’t believe us because we stumbled a bit against Western League teams,” said Bartow.




2024 Week 1A: Arcadia Invitational Results, Second Day

GIRLS

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
Seeded 100 Lauren Gilhooly Coronado :11.70 First
Open 100 Ily Barclay Steele Canyon :12.20
Taylore Hoagland Rancho Bernardo :12.29
Tianna Rustkovich Mt. Carmel :12.32
Chanel Burton Helix :12.36
Laraigh Allen Helix
Open 220 Gilhooly :24.82 11th
Rustkovich :25.26
Arynn Sanders Otay Ranch :25.84
Invitational 400 Payton Smith La Jolla :53.56 Second
Nicoletta Burkhardt Steele Canyon 1:03.20 Eighth
Seeded 400 Kaitlin Donnelly La Costa Canyon :57.69 18th
Tiffany Stoughton Scripps Ranch :59.05
Allen 1:09.55
Invitational 800 Tessa Buswell Poway 2:10.41 Third
  Makenna Herbst Carlsbad 2:12.09 Sixth
Seeded 800 Kaitlin Arciaga Westview 2:09.26 First
Open 800 Miriam Aguirre Patrick Henry 2:14.39 Seventh
  Harper Diaz Santana 2:18.25
  Navah Lipsky Francis Parker 2:27.11
Open Mile Kaya Scuba Sage Creek 4:57.44 Third
  Sydney Kosa Olympian 4:58.53 Eighth
  Arciaga 4:59.24 10th
  Lipsky 5:13.41
  Emily Russo Del Norte 5:14.47
Invitational 3200 Jaelyn Williams Eastlak 10:02.56 Third
  Giona Lopizzo La Costa Canyon 10:05.65 Fifth
  Chiara Dailey La Jolla 10:09.78 Ninth
Invitational 100 Hurdles Anisa Bowen-Fontenot San Diego :14.03 Eighth
Open 100 Hurdles Lillian Cook Steele Canyon :14.84 Seventh
  Karolina Gates Point Loma :15.60
  Gabriel Thomas Grossmont :16.47
Invitational 300 Hurdles Morgan Herbst Carlsbad :41.45 First
  Bowen-Fontenot :44.32 Seventh
Open 400 Hurdles Cook 44.97 13th
  Zamaria Mack Otay Ranch :45.70
Seeded 4×100 Relay Steele Canyon :47.82 Sixth
Open 4×100 Relay Helix :48.22 Fourth
  Otay Ranch :48.58 13th
  Del Norte :49.70
  San Marcos :49.85
Seeded 4×400 Relay Carlsbad 3:52.99 Fourth
Open 4×400 Relay Del Norte 4:01.14 10th
  Sage Creek 4:02.23 12th
  Poway 4:14.59
Invitational 4×800 Relay Cathedral 9:24.13 Fifth
  Del Norte 9:29.85 Eighth
Invitational 4×1600 Relay Cathedral 20:57.39 Third
  Del Norte 21:37.23 Ninth
Invitational 1200, 400, 800, 1600 Relay Cathedral 12:07.63 4th
  La Jolla 12:31.79 12th
Invitational Shot Put Colon-Gipson Otay Ranch 40-6 ¾ Seventh
  T. Liufau Helix 37-1 16th
Open Shot Put Ford Helix 38-10 Second
  H. Lauifi Helix 36-9 10th
  Williams Cathedral 36-1 13th
  L. Lauifi Helix 35-6
Invitational Discus Driscoll Canyon Crest 142-0 Seventh
  Williams 127-11 16th
Open Discus Ford Helix 114-09 11th
  H. Lauifi 108-01
Open High Jump Lopez-Valenzuela Poway 5-1 10T
Invitational Pole Vault Echsner Del Norte 12-9 Third
Invitational Long Jump Hoagland Rancho Bernardo 17-11 ½ 11th
Open Long Jump Hoagland 18-1 First
Open Triple Jump  Cook 35-2 3/4 11th

BOYS

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
Invitational 100 Brandon Arrington, Jr., Mount Miguel :10.44w 4th
Open 100 Donald Moore III Rock 10.94
  Jalen Saint Paul Carlsbad 11:03
  Riley Leyva Cathedral 11:29
Invitational 200 Arrington :20.76 1st
Open 200 Saint Paul :22.48
Seeded 400 David Slaughter Mt. Carmel :48.56 4th
Open 400 Vincent Jones Mount Miguel :48.52 3rd
  Nathan Bruhn Cathedral :50.25
  Spencer Gray Helix :50.67
Seeded 800 Angel Cordero Olympian :1:54.98 8th
Open Mile Cain Evans Carlsbad 4:19.25
Seeded 3200 Omar Reyes Oceanside 9:07.17
Rated 3200 Caden Hicks University City 9:02.96
  Jacob Pippel Canyon Crest 9:03.93
Invitational 110 High Hurdles Shon Martin Helix :13.93 4th
  Jonathan Tseko Biffle Santana :14.20 7th
Open 110 High Hurdles Vincent Atilano Cathedral :14.83
  Chris Cappello Rancho Bernardo :14.92
  Justin Reichenberg Mission Bay :15.02
  Callum McFarlane Carlsbad :15.09
Invitational 300 Hurdles Vincent Atilano Cathedral :37.42 2nd
  Tseko-Biffle :38.56 6th
Seeded 300 Hurdles Martin :37.58 1st
Open 300 Hurdles Devin Escobar El Camino :40.06
Open 4×100 Relay Helix :42.95
  Cathedral :43.06
  Del Norte :43.17
  Otay Ranch :43.26
  Santana :43.27
Open 4×400 Relay Mt. Carmel Caulfield, Tucker,
Barrus, Slaughter
3:20.7 First
  Helix 3:22.7 3rd
  Carlsbad 3:24.23 7th
  El Capitan 3:32.05
Invitational Pole Vault Jacob Emerson Sage Creek 15-9 4th
  Joey Weisman Torrey Pines 15-3 15th
  Chance Rynearson Mission Bay 14-9 16th
  Joseph Sbuttoni IV St. Augustine 14-9 17th
  Vincent Farenc Westview 14-1 21st
Invitational Shot Put Anthony Gash Helix 53-7
  Ryan Telmaque Sage Creek 49-7 1/4
Invitational Discus Gash 157-06 15th
  Telmaque 149-05 17th
Open Discus Omar Ortega Rancho Bernardo 143-06
Open High Jump Jackson Gross Torrey Pines 6-0 6T
  Elijah Cheeks Mission Bay 5-9
Invitational Long Jump Austin McCotter Cathedral 23-2 5th
  Martin 21-5 12th
Invitational Triple Jump Reichenberg 47-5 ¼ 4th
Open Triple Jump Samuel Gouvalaris Torrey Pines 43-4
  Quentin Hale Cathedral 40-6 ¾



2024 Week 1: Arcadia Invitational, First Day

Opening event of the marathon 56th Arcadia Invitational was Friday afternoon, April 4, followed by a Saturday spectacular that goes from not long after sun-up to late-night TV.

San Diego Section boys and girls Friday participated in many events, some with four classifications, Invitational, Open, Seeded, and Rated.  “Rising Stars” events below, usually are reserved for freshmen or promising upper class entries.

Arcadia, probably  the premier meet in the country, signals the start of the season’s second half, ending under a usually warmer than warm sun in the 104th state meet at Clovis’ Buchanan High May 24-25.

San Diego Section Friday results:

BOYS

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
Open 3200 Aidan O’Toole Sage Creek 9:14.08 10th
  Adrian Welton Westview 9:20.24 20th
Seeded 4×200 Relay Atilano, Leyva, Bruhn, McCotter Cathedral 1:29.32 5th
Rated 4×800 Relay Walker, Brotman, Stevenson, Evans Carlsbad 8:15.02 12th
  Dobrowolski, Rowan Hannaman, Stevens,
Brenner
Westview 8:18.83 16th
Invitational 200, 200,
400, 800 Relay
Phillips. Arrington, Jr., Jones, Cloyd Mount Miguel 3:33.33 2nd
Rising Stars Discus Lawson Grace Westview 131-4 20th
Rising Stars Pole Vault Dylan Yarbrough San Dieguito 14-10 1st
  Leo Sun Del Norte 13-10 3rd
  Ethan Heldman La Jolla Country Day 13-10 5T
  Brandon Moore Torrey Pines 13-10 7th
  Tyler Suhar Torrey Pines 13-4 10T
Rising Stars Long Jump Vincent Jones Mount Miguel 21-2 6th
  Kevin Allen Helix 20-7 12T
Rising Stars Triple Jump Zeshaun Daley Oceanside 44-1 1/4 2nd
  Jordan Julien Mt. Carmel 37-6 1/4 15th

GIRLS

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
Rated 3200 Hannah Aguirre Patrick Henry 10:43.59 1st
  Gabriella Peters Sage Creek 10:46.12 3rd
Seeded 3200 Scarlett Martin Cathedral 10:49.34 8th
  Winter Moritz University City 10:50.38 9th
  Alexandria Pena Cathedral 10:51.25 10th
  Kirra Fisk La Jolla 11:01.70 15th
  Ayanna Hickey The Bishop’s 11:04.80 19th
Open 3200 Isabella Ramos Point Loma 10:51.19 4th
  Darcy Ray University City 11:14.37 22nd
Rated 4×200 Relay Barclay, Dickens, Fuller, Burkhardt Steele Canyon 1:41.99 1st
Invitational 4×800 Relay Zimmer, Hellman, Bickler, Bonomi Cathedral 9:24.13 5th
Russo, E. Echsner, P. Echsner, Hong Del Norte 9:29.85 8th
Seeded 4×800 Relay Long, Hennigan, Li, Arciaga Westview 9:56.56 16th
Mayer, Aalaei, Plezia, Gray La Jolla 10:06.33 20th
Invitational 4×1600 Relay Bonomi, Zimmer, Gibson, Hellman Cathedral 20:57.39 3rd
Shannon, Hong, Russo, Enyedi Del Norte 21:37.23 9th
Seeded 100, 100, 200, 400 Relay Ewing, Barclay, Dickens, Burkhardt Steele Canyon 1:48.29 1st
Rising Stars Pole Vault Caitlin Khieu Del Norte 10-9 11th
Rising Stars Long Jump Devyn Harper Long Jump 16-6 7th
Rising Stars Triple Jump Lillian Cook Steele Canyon 37-1 ¼ 1st



1975 Track: Jefferson Close, But Missed Third in Row

Morse’s Ned Armour could be counted on for points in the hurdles and long jump.

Elijah Jefferson’s quest for a record, third consecutive state meet 100-yard dash championship was short circuited by the blindingly fast start (a “flyer”, some suggested) on the Balboa Stadium track by Kevin Williams of San Fernando.

Jefferson had tied his  meet record of :09.4 in the trials and Williams, known for tremendous acceleration at the sound of the starter’s pistol, or before, had won his heat in :09.5.

Williams’ :09.4 victory in the final tied the record first set by Santa Rosa Montgomery’s Mel Gray in 1967, equaled by Jefferson in 1974 (he also was first in 1973) and by West Bakersfield’s Joel Andrews in 1975.

Billy Mullins of Los Angeles Hamilton won the 220 championship in :21.1, with Jefferson fifth in :21.4, behind Williams’ fourth-place :21.3.

Jefferson went onto to compete for the University of Arizona.  Williams returned to ‘Fernando in 1976 but was disqualified for a false start in the state 100 finals in Berkeley.

Williams had an excellent football and track career at USC but died at age 38 in 1996.

Williams was employed as a railroad brakeman and was killed with another brakeman when the train on which they were working derailed and crashed in flames in a steep canyon on the Cajon Pass north of San Bernardino.

WOODS EDGES HUNT

Vista’s Jay Wood scored a rare victory over Patrick Henry’s Thom Hunt in the state mile, finishing third in 4:10.8, with Hunt fifth in 4:11.2.

Woods did not qualify out of the San Diego Section meet in the two-mile. Hunt won in 9:11, but Hunt finished 19th in 9:30.2 in the state meet, behind Crawford’s Glenn Best, 18th in 9:27.2

Hunt had season bests of 4:07.8 in the mile and 9:02.6 in the long race.

5/11-30/75

SOUTHERN LEAGUE FINALS, @GRANITE HILLS

Christian scored 106 points, 50 more than Army-Navy, and won the team championship.

The Patriots were first in nine events and set two individual records, Edwards with a 4:40.9 mile and Blyth with 10:30.6 two-mile.

AVOCADO LEAGUE TRIALS, @VISTA

Jay Woods of Vista had the day’s best mark, 1:58.5 in the 880. Thomas of Vista clocked :50.5 in winning a 440 heat.

GIRLS SAN DIEGO SECTION QUALIFYING, @POWAY

Kathy Devine was off her national record holder form of 52 feet, 3 inches, with the shot in 1974, but finished far ahead of the field with an eight-pound shot put of 46-6.

GIRLS SAN DIEGO SECTION QUALIFYING, @MADISON

Grossmont’s Carolyn McDonald was a double winner with a 2:23.6 880 and 5:32.2 mile.

Clairemont’s Don Brown emerged in 330-yard low hurdles.

GROSSMONT LEAGUE TRIALS, @GRANITE HILLS

“I had a hard workout Monday and I just using this as another one,” said Helix’ Steve Wiggins, who was attempting an 880-440 double and eased to victories in 1:59 and :50.

“I’ll go hard in the 880, then if disaster strikes I still have the 440 to fall back on, said Wiggins.”

El Cajon Valley’s Mark Malone led shot putters at 58 feet and discus throwers at 168-11 after a 195-foot attempt in practice.

Mount Miguel qualified 21 for the finals, Grossmont 20, and Helix, 18.

EASTERN LEAGUE FINALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

Ned Armour of Morse was a triple winner.  Armour’s victories were in the 120 high hurdles (:14.5), 330-yard lows (:38.6), and long jump (22 feet, 8 inches).

Elijah Jefferson of Crawford and Thom Hunt of Patrick Henry were double winners. Jefferson ran :09.7 in the 100 and :21.4 in the 220 and Hunt logged a 4:15.7mile, second fastest in the state, and 9:14.2 in the two-mile.

Crawford’s Phil Hendrick was second to Hunt in each race in 4:16.5 and 9:16.7.

Jefferson also ran a leg on the Colts’ 440-yard relay, which turned in a state-leading time of :41.8 and Armour helped Morse to a second-place finish in :42.4.  Lincoln was third in :42.5

Mike Glatz brought Mar Vista home in Metropolitan League meet record of :43 in 440 relay.

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE FINALS, @CASTLE PARK

Lennie McNeill of Sweetwater took down a league record that had stood since 1937, leaping 23 feet, 2 ½ inches in the long jump, landing beyond the 22-8 7/8 by Oceanside’s Bill Huntales 38 years before.

Montgomery’s Clint Bradburn turned a meet record :49.5 440.  Fifteen minutes later Bradburn with a best of :39.1, was a nonqualifying fourth the 330 low hurdles in :40 as Castle Park’s Bob McCurdy won in a league-record :39.4, bettering the :39.5 by Bradburn in the trials.

WESTERN LEAGUE FINALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

Don Brown, struggling to find his alignment with the 30-inch barriers (“step” in more esoteric terms), had suddenly took the County lead the previous week with a :38.4 race in the 330-yard lows.

The Clairemont athlete, known primarily as a quartermiler, turned around and lowered his mark to :37.9.

Kearny’s Mike Bussey was a double winner in the 100 and 220 at :10 and :22.2 and anchored a :42.5 victory in the 440 relay.

AVOCADO LEAGUE FINALS, @VISTA

Oceanside’s Arvli Ward, with bests of :10 and :50.5 coming into the meet, ran the 100 in :09.9 and 440 in :49.6.

Jay Woods of Vista edged Shannon Laird of San Marcos, 4:18.3 to 4:18.4, in the mile, and doubled back with a 9:28.6 two-mile victory.

GROSSMONT LEAGUE FINALS, @GRANITE HILLS

Steve Riggins’ quest for an 880-440 double was in place until Mike Cardwell of Mount Miguel stormed past the astonished Riggins in the last 100 yards to win the 880 in 1:55.7, with Riggins clocking 1:55.9.

“I saw Riggins’ mouth drop open as I went by,” Cardwell told Nick Canepa of the Evening Tribune.  “I knew I had him then.  He’s been saying all week than no one can catch him over the last 220.”

Cardwell also got Mount Miguel off to a good start with a :49.6 opening leg in the mile relay, in which the Matadors set a meet record of 3:24.8 after Riggins returned to win the 440 in :49.4.

Mark Malone of El Cajon Valley and Kris Lettow of Helix waged duels of weights.

Malone hurled the shot 58-11 ½ and discus 170-8, Lettow 56-11 1/2 and 170-5, respectively.

Helix won the team championship with 50 points to Grossmont’s 48, and Mount Miguel’s 41.

Mike Bussey (right) accepted baton from Donald Williams on final leg of Western League 440 relay, which Kearny won in :42.5. Others, from left: Madison, Point Loma, and San Diego.

SAN DIEGO SECTION TRIALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

Crawford and Patrick Henry each had 11 qualifiers, followed by Vista, 9; Morse, Lincoln, and Bonita Vista had  8 each.

Kearny’s :41.8 in a 440 relay heat tied for first in the state with Crawford.  The Colts’ Elijah Jefferson posted a :09.6 100 into a 4.5 miles-an-hour wind, eased to a :21.7 220, and helped Crawford to a :41.9 relay win.

Helix’ Steve Riggins (1:54.3) topped Henry’s Paul Becklund (1:55.7) with a career-best 880, and Riggins made it a double with a :49.4 440.

The two leaders in the mile, Vista Jay Woods (4:15.7) and Henry’s Thom Hunt (4:16.5) won their heats.  Mount Miguel logged a county best 3:21.9 in the mile relay.

SAN DIEGO SECTION FINALS, @BALBOA STADIIUM

Crawford’s Elijah Jefferson (lane 5) led the 100-yard dash trial in the state meet as part of the crowd of 7,500 persons looked on in Balboa Stadium.

Patrick Henry scored 27 points, Crawford 25, Morse 23, Santana 22, and Helix 20 in spirited battle for the team championship.

The meet started fast, with Crawford’s :41.5 440 relay, tying Lincoln’s 1968 record.  Kearny was second in :41.9, followed by Lincoln, :42.1, and Patrick Henry and San Diego, each at :42.7.

Elijah Jefferson set a record of :09.5 in the 100 and smoked the Balboa curve and straightaway for a :21.1 220, also a record.

Jefferson, along with San Diego’s Carl Sanford (1963) and Madison’s Bruce Girasole (1972), had run :09.6 (1973, ’74).  Johnny Mack Ellis of Lincoln had timed :21.4 in 1966.

“I talked to Johnny this week and he said the record had been :21.4 too long,” said Jefferson. “He really wanted me to break it.”

Jefferson was on a mission.  “It would be my last chance to set San Diego CIF records, so I wanted to get them.  I also wanted some fast times before the state meet.”

Donald Brown of Clairemont ran :37.6 in the 330-yard low hurdles, bettering the :37.8 in last week’s trials by Helix’ Craig Evans, who was runner-up in :37.8.

Thom Hunt of Patrick Henry won the mile in 4:13.1, topping Vista’s Jay Woods (4:15.7), and backed it up with a 9:11 victory in the two-mile.

Mount Miguel’s Mike Cardwell edged Helix’ Steve Riggins in Grossmont League 880 final.

6/6/75
57TH BOYS STATE TRACK TRIALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
100 Elijah Jefferson Crawford :09.4 1T
  Chuck Benbow Kearny :10.1t
220 Jefferson :21.36 6T
  Ron Edmerson Lincoln :21.6 14T
440 Steve Riggins Helix :48.7 6T
  Clint Bradburn Montgomery :48.9 9th
880 Paul Becklund Patrick Henry 1:52.3 3rd
  Riggins 1:54.5 13T
  Rick Kruger BonitaVista 2:02.8
Mile Jay Woods Vista 4:13.2 2nd
  Thom Hunt Patrick Henry 4:15.3 5th
120 High Hurdles Ned Armour Morse :14.5 15th
  Bruce Byerly La Jolla :15.1 19T
330 Low Hurdles Craig Evans Helix :37.7 12T
  Donald Brown Clairemont
440 Relay Kearny :42.0 9T
  Crawford DQ
Mile Relay La Jolla 3:22.5 13th
  Bonita Vista
High Jump Jay Keesling Escondido 6-2 19T
  Greg Rackley Escondido 6-0
Long Jump Ned Armour Morse 22-8 ¼ 11th
  Lennie McNeill Sweetwater 21-4 ¼
Triple Jump Gary James Lincoln 46-8 10th
  Jesse Cabill Oceanside 45-3 ½ 17T
Shot Put Chris Lettow Helix 55-1 1/2 18T
  Terry Anderson Santana 54-9 ½ 19th
Discus Lettow 168-1 4th
  Anderson 161-4 12th
Pole Vault Gene Moss Mar Vista 13-3 13T
  Jim Belue Santana 13-3 13T

 FIRST GIRLS STATE TRACK TRIALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
100 Dennis Becton Morse :11.3 12T
  Andiva Taylor Clairemont :11.4 14th
220 Taylor :25.2 12th
  Becton :25.6 16th
440 Vanessa Thompson San Diego :58.8 11T
  Beth Howell San Dieguito :59.4 14th
880 Carolyn McDonald Grossmont 2:19.0 8T
  Howell 2:19.0 8T
80 Low Hurdles Karen Taylor Point Loma :10.9 5T
  Carmen Williams San Diego :11.2 13T
440 Relay Vista :49.1 6T
  Morse :49.5 10th
200, 100, 100, 800 Medley San Dieguito 1:52.6 14th
  Point Loma 1:59.7 17th
High Jump Chris Remmling San Dieguito 5-2 1T
  Patti Stafford Clairemont 5-1 10T
Long Jump Taylor 18-5 ¾ 1st
  Joyce Bell Kearny 17-1 1/4 12th
Shot Put Kathy Devine Mission Bay 49-1 1st
  Annette Chandler Poway 36-9 ½ 17th

6/7/75

57th BOYS STATE TRACK FINALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
100 Elijah Jefferson Crawford :09.5 2nd
220 Jefferson :21.4 5th
880 Paul Becklund Patrick Henry 1:53.8 6th
Mile Jay Woods Vista 4:10.8 3rd
  Thom Hunt Patrick Henry 4:11.2 5th
Two Mile Glenn Best Crawford 9:27.2 18th
  Hunt 9:30.2 19th
440 Relay Kearny :42.0 5th
Discus Chris Lettow Helix 159-5 8th

 SECOND GIRLS STATE FINALS, @BALBOA STADIUM

EVENT NAME SCHOOL MARK PLACE
440 Vanessa Thompson San Diego
880 Beth Howell San Dieguito 2:12.8 3rd
  Carolyn McDonald Grossmont 2:15.2 5th
Mile Jody Massey Poway 5:10.6 8th
80 Low Hurdles Karen Taylor Point Loma :10.9 4th
440 Relay Morse :49.8 6th
  Vista 9th
High Jump Chris Remmling San Dieguito 5-7 2nd
Long Jump Karen Taylor Point Loma 18-4 ¾ 2nd
Shot Put Kathy Devine Mission Bay 42-3 3/4 1st
Discus Exhibition Kathy Middleton Poway 115-0 7th



2023-24 Basketball Week 11: Happy Trails, San Diego Section Ballers

The girls from Grossmont and Montgomery closed the San Diego Section basketball season on losing notes in championship games in Sacramento.

Montgomery (25-12) dropped a 56-50 decision to Oakland High (23-10) in the Division V final and Grossmont (27-8) was beaten in D-IV, 42-29, by Eureka St. Bernard (30-5).

But a losing performance probably was the highlight of the boys’ and girls’ 2023-24 season.

Studio City Harvard-Westlake (33-3) won the  state Open Division championship, 50-45 over Richmond Salesian after edging Eastvale Roosevelt, 63-59, for the Southern championship that followed an epic battle in the Southern semifinals with Carlsbad.

‘Westlake survived the Lancers, 73-72.  Carlsbad’s  performance, after losing to the same team, 83-44, in the season opener, was such that it climbed from 16th to 10th in the weekly Cal-Hi Sports poll and is ranked eighth in the state by Max-Preps.

Carlsbad’s other loss was to Montgomery. 63-55, in December.

Junior Jake Hall led the Lancers with a 20.7 scoring average.

Hall (23) and Carlsbad Lancers were 30-3. Courtesy, Max-Preps.

Angel Ochoa of St. Joseph was the San Diego Section scoring champion with a 35.3 average and 1,024 points for the 19-10 Crusaders.

Mount Miguel’s girls team was 4-21, but not because of Jaelene Hughes, who averaged 38.7 points and scored 903.

 

 




1948 Baseball: Hilltoppers Team of Year, Stagnaro Player of Year

It was another great season by coach Mike Morrow’s San Diego High Hilltoppers, who won their second Southern Section championship in the last three seasons.

(San Diego also won the team championship in track and field and reached the finals in football, losing, 13-12, to Santa Monica).

The Hillers were 69-16, a .812 winning percentage,  since Morrow returned from the war to coaching the Hilltoppers in 1946.

San Diego (26-3) lost to Compton, 3-2, in the finals of the Pomona 2030 Rotary Club tournament but slammed the Tarbabes, 24-0, in the Coast League season.  They also lost two games to the powerful Tucson Bears, but were 4-2 against the Arizona club in home-and-home series.

Mike Morrow’s Hilltoppers dominated.

POSTSEASON LACKS

This would be incredible by 21st century standards.

There still was half of the Metropolitan League season remaining when CIF boss Seth Van Patten announced that Grossmont would represent the league in the playoffs.

Grossmont and Point Loma were tied for first with seven games remaining, but the Pointers declined.

“Grossmont seems to be more fortified in the pitching department and could stand the strain of three games in a week, whereas on us the burden  might weaken our chances for the Metro flag,” Pointers coach Hilbert Crosthwaite was quoted.

The playoffs would begin before the league season was completed.

Van Patten often found it necessary to fill a bracket while regular-season games still were to be played.

The playoffs held no great attraction to some teams and leagues.

4/16/48

“Under a stifling April sun,” wrote Gene Earl of The San Diego Union, San Diego’s Eddie Simpson singled home John Switi in the ninth inning for an 8-7 triumph over Hoover in Balboa Stadium.

Simpson and Neale Henderson each had three hits for the Hilltoppers and Joe Brown and Don Jordan two apiece.

Bill McColl was the losing pitcher but he kept the Cardinals in the game with three hits, all “hard hit” doubles.

—Art Preston struck out 14 and gave up three hits and Dick Rand socked a three-run home run in Grossmont’s 11-3 win over visiting Oceanside.

—Yoko Takeshita drove in three runs with a tie-breaking eighth-inning double and Eddie Serrano homered as Point Loma outlasted La Jolla, 107, despite three hits each by the Vikings’ Charlie Way and Eddie Whitehead.

—Al Hooper, Terry Shaw, and Frank Castro clubbed home runs as newcomer Chula Vista whipped Escondido, 16-9, at Sweetwater.  Don Silcock homered for the Cougars.

—Dick Bartz had four hits in five times at bat, drove in four runs, and pitched a three-hitter in Kearny’s 7-5 win over Sweetwater.

—Gene Green was 2 for 5 with a triple and single to lead errorless St. Augustine to an 8-3 win at Brown Military, which erred four times.

San Diego High’s Andy Stagnaro was CIF player of the year.

4/18/48

Bill McColl pitched Hoover to a 7-4 win over Pasadena and the Cardinals completed a doubleheader sweep, 13-1 over Pasadena Muir as part of Coast League scheduling that sent teams from the North on combined weekend trips.

McColl and Larry Nenna had two hits each and Leroy Darnell drove in four runs in the opener.  McColl had two hits and four runs batted in and Bill White gave up three hits in the seven-inning nightcap.

4/19/48

Brown Military made it three straight Southern League victories, 11-9 at Vista.

—Grossmont and Point Loma each improved to 4-1 in the Metropolitan League, the Foothillers 13-4 over Chula Vista and the Pointers 6-3 over Kearny in eight innings.

—Sweetwater, which was behind, 8-1, in the fifth inning, scored its first league win, 15-14 over Escondido.  Earl Holbrook singled in Dave Brennan with the winning run in the seventh inning.

4/23/48

San Diego (8-0) clinched the Coast League championship, hammering Pasadena, 9-1, in Balboa Stadium, while Hoover (5-3) was dropping an 11-7 decision at Compton as loop play concluded.

Hoover’s Bill White “was even wilder” than the 50-mile-an-hour winds, walking 11 batters.  San Diego’s Andy Stagnaro struck out 14 and walked none.

—Point Loma beat Escondido, 13-1, and Grossmont topped La Jolla, 7-3, to remain tied for first in the Metropolitan loop.

The Foothillers trailed, 3-2, in the eighth inning and mounted two late rallies.  The Pointers’ Eddie Serrano took the bite out of the Cougars by allowing only five hits and stroking a pair of doubles.

—Reserve outfielder Huddy McWilliams hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning and Kearny nipped Oceanside, 8-7.

Joe Brown scored San Diego’s first run in 9-1 victory over Pasadena in Coast League encounter in Balboa Stadium.

4/27/48

San Diego collected 12 hits but needed Frank San Filippo’s triple that scored Neale Henderson in the 11th inning to claim a 2-1 win over the Submarine Force at Navy Field.

—Tom Boehlke’s single in the fifth inning was the only hit for Kearny, which dropped a 2-0 decision to the Foothillers’ Art Preston.

—Tom Browning struck out 12 batters in five innings and Mal Vargas hit a grand slam home run in the first inning as Point Loma beat Sweetwater, 13-0, and finished the first round of play with a 6-1 record, tied for first with Grossmont.

5/1/48

San Diego opened a three-game series in Tucson, Arizona, and scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning and then held on for an 8-7 victory.

Frank San Filippo’s 400-foot, three-run home run was the clincher after the Hilltoppers had fallen behind, 7-4, when the Bears scored four runs in the eighth inning.

Ray Irving hurled a scoreless bottom of the ninth for coach Mike Morrow’s visitors before 1,350 persons.

—Outhit, 14-8, visiting Point Loma took advantage of seven Chula Vista errors to score an 11-10, Metropolitan League victory and remain tied for first, matching the 7-1 record of Grossmont, which rolled 1-7 Escondido, 15-4.

5/2/48

Hoover completed a 19-5 season with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Bonita, 12-6 and 5-4.  Bill McColl was unavailable to coach Les Cassie’s team as McColl was competing in theall-Coast League track meet at Balboa Stadium.

From left, Third baseman Eddie Simpson, second baseman Tommy Martinez, shortstop Neale Henderson, first baseman Dave Jordan, and third baseman Al Kennerly of the 26-3 San Diego Hilltoppers.

5/3/48

Home Brown Military won its fourth consecutive Southern League game, 15-5, parlaying 12 hits and seven San Dieguito errors.

Pedro Mesa was 4 for 4, Red Wright doubled and tripled, and Morris (Dude) Hedrick pitched Fallbrook to a 6-2 win against visiting Ramona.

5/7/48

Grossmont put an end to Point Loma’s Metropolitan League hopes, embarrassing the Pointers at home, 8-1.  The Foothillers pounded out 15 hits and Art Preston shut down the Pointers on three hits.

Grossmont improved to 9-1 in league play. Point Loma and La Jolla were tied for second, each 7-3.

5/9/48

Two games remained in the Metro League but Grossmont had been informed days earlier by Southern Section boss Seth Van Patten that the Foothillers would meet Brown Military in the first round of the playoffs.

Point Loma, at the time still with a mathematical chance to catch John Hancock’s La Mesa squad and with an earlier, 8-6 win over Grossmont, had informed Van Patten that it would not be party to the postseason.

Metro loop squads over the years often declined postseason invitations.

San Diego High was scheduled to take on Imperial Valley titan Calexico the following day.

Jack Graham slid safely into third base with stolen base as Kearny’s Dick Ponse awaited late throw.  Foothillers won, 1-0.

5/10/48

Grossmont warmed up for Brown Military with a 6-2 win over Oceanside, while the Cadets beat Julian, 12-3.  La Jolla whacked Point Loma, 11-3, to take a one-game lead for second place.

Vikings pitcher Bud Releya set down the Pointers on eight hits and contributed a home run, matched and then some by catcher Charlie Woy’s two home runs.

SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS.

San Diego 19, @Calexico 1

The Hilltoppers led, 8-0, in the fourth inning, when they exploded for 10 runs.

It would be a happy but long ride back over the Laguna mountains for coach Mike Morrow’s team, so the game mercifully was called after both teams scored in the seventh inning.

Don Jordan homered, Frank San Filippo was 3 for 3, and Neale Henderson had two triples and a single to pace the Hillers’ 16-hit attack.

5/13/48

Grossmont 15, @Brown Military 3.

There were two rounds of games left on the Metro schedule but the playoffs got under way with Grossmont knocking off Brown Military of the Southern League, 15-3.

The Cadets took a 3-0 lead on their Pacific Beach diamond in the first inning when Phil Milligan tripled with the bases loaded after a couple singles and a walk.

Grossmont pitcher Art Preston settled down and Preston’s and his teammates’ bats came to life with a 17-hit onslaught as coach John Hancock’s team scored at least one run in the third through seventh innings and two more in the ninth.

Preston doubled and tripled, drove in six runs, and shut out the Cadets over the last eight innings.

Art Preston was ace of coach John Hancock’s Grossmont pitching staff.

5/14/48

Grossmont backed into a tie Metropolitan League championship after sustaining a 10-3 loss to Chula Vista on the Sweetwater diamond while Oceanside eliminated La Jolla, 7-6.

The standings, with one round remaining, showed the Foothillers (10-2) with a two-game lead over the Vikings (8-4).

Far down in the standings, Escondido (2-8) erupted for a 20-6 victory over visiting Sweetwater (1-9).

Assigned game umpires stiffed Point Loma (7-4) and host Kearny (6-5). The arbiters failed to show, probably thinking the game was at Point Loma.

5/15/48

SOUTHERN SECTION QUARTERFINALS

San Diego 12, Grossmont 0, @Lane Field.

About 700 persons were in attendance as coach Mike Morrow’s Hilltoppers continued to drive the opposition into submission, claiming a fourth win over coach John Hancock’s team, following 22-5, 5-1, and 7-6 victories.

San Diego collected only seven hits, but three Grossmont pitchers issued 14 bases on balls, beginning with three in a row followed by Curtis Everett’s single that put starter Art Preston and the Foothillers in a 2-0 hole in the first inning.

The Hilltoppers’ Andy Stagnaro allowed one extra base hit, Preston’s double, and three singles to Jack Graham, among the losers’ seven.  Stagnaro teammates Everett and Joe Brown each had two hits.

5/20/48

SOUTHERN SECTION SEMIFINALS

San Diego 5, @Newport Beach Newport Harbor 1.

It was a semifinal game for San Diego but a quarterfinals game for the Sailors.  A Newport Harbor victory would have advanced it to the semifinals.  San Diego needed one victory to gain the finals.

Such was the peculiar status of the postseason, a time of constant juggling by commissioner Seth Van Patten in search of filling brackets for an event that wasn’t embraced by all of Van Patten’s CIF constituents.

Andy Stagnaro, soon to be named Southern California player of the year, saw his 22-innings scoreless streak end when the Sailors bunched two hits and a couple errors and scored an unearned run in the ninth inning in San Diego’s 5-1 victory.

Frank San Filippo tripled with Joe Brown and Don Jordan on base to give the Hilltoppers a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

San Fillippo homered in the ninth inning for a 5-0 lead after a two-run eighth that featured Don Jordan’s single, which was followed by three walks, an error, and wild pitch.

5/22/48

Arlan King hit two home runs and Ramona, scoring four runs in the bottom of the bottom of the 10th inning, after San Dieguito had taken an 8-5 lead, pulled out a 9-8 victory.

—Halbert Crow’s two triples and 14 additional base hits by Crow’s Grossmont teammates, plus five Kearny errors, allowed the Foothillers to close their season on a winning note, 14-0, and with a 12-2 league record.

—First-year Chula Vista slugged La Jolla, 14-7, and gained a tie for third place, each with an 8-6 record.  Point Loma (9-4) was scheduled to play a makeup game with Kearny (7-6) but clinched second with an 11-8 win over Sweetwater.

San Diego pitcher Andy Stagnaro cut loose against a Glendale Hoover batter in Hilltoppers’ 20-1 victory in Southern Section final.

5/25/48

The umpires showed and the rescheduled game of the May 10 postponement was a 4-2 Point Loma (10-4) victory over Kearny (7-7).  Hunter Browning spaced 10 hits and pitched the Pointers’ victory.

5/29/48

Grossmont’s Art Preston hit safely 23 times in 45 at-bats to lead the Metropolitan League with a .511 average.  Preston also was the most productive pitcher with an 8-1 record and .889-win percentage.

Twenty-seven players hit at least .300 in league play.  The 27th was La Jolla outfielder-first baseman, Bob Skinner, who played 12 seasons and coached or managed in a long major league career.

Skinner had 11 hits in 37 times at bat for a .300 average.

6/5/48

SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS, @LANE FIELD

Glendale Hoover 1, San Diego (26-3) 20, @Lane Field.

Described as “lengthy and drab,” the game lasted two hours and 27 minutes and was essentially over when the Hilltoppers took a 5-0 lead in the first inning.

Andy Stagnaro (15-1) struck out nine, gave up four hits, and won his fourth consecutive playoff start.

The Hilltoppers mustered only eight hits, but four errors and the Tornadoes, without star pitcher Warren Hart, out with the flu, suffered as four pitchers issued 15 bases on balls.

San Diego executed a triple steal during a four-run seventh inning.

Tommy Martinez, Dave Jordan and Bob Evert each had two hits before the turnout of about 700 persons at the San Diego Padres’ ball park.

 6/22/58

A crowd of 1,258 persons saw a team of all-stars from the Coast League defeat a all-star squad from the Metropolitan League, 14-1, at Lane Field.  The contest was sponsored by the Breitbard Athletic Foundation with proceeds to the San Diego Kiwanis Club’s Child Care Fund.

Don Jordan of San Diego High and Robbie Boone of Compton each had three hits for the Coast League team. Boone and Bill Casey of Hoover tripled with the bases loaded to account for 6 runs.