LJ baseball 6, RBV 5 - CIF D3 playoffs - 5/22

A pickoff throw by Will Griebe-Arzate (not in view)

catches RBV's Zach Roe with too big a lead

before Viking first baseman Ryan Khourajian (22)

applies the tag. See the ball upper left, just in the frame.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

The irony of the Vikings' 6-5 comeback win over Rancho Buena Vista Fri., May 22, can't be overstated. It earns them the right to travel four hours to the place they "never wanted to go"--having forfeited only two days before, when the chartered bus didn't show up on time to take them to distant Blythe--on Sat., May 23, as they continue in the Division 3 playoffs.

In reality, the Harper Lane and Carter Strauss-led La Jollans did want to travel to Riverside County, along the Colorado River. They just couldn't get a ride to get them there.

So, with the forfeit chalked up as one of the two losses they are allowed in the double-elimination postseason tourney, La Jolla battled back from a 5-4 deficit in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the Longhorns on Lane's double to right, driving in pinch-hitter Oliver Obler.

Then, in extra innings, the just-hitting-enough red-and-black tallied for the 6-5 victory when Strauss got hit by a pitch, forcing in a run with the bases loaded. It was a dramatic way to survive in the playoffs, but a sad one for RBV, who played four games in five days this week to get this far.

Hunter Durfee, who Coach Gary Frank inserted into right field last week "to get an extra bat in the lineup" in the struggles against Lincoln, tripled just inside the first base foul line with the bases loaded to put La Jolla ahead, 3-2, in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Zach Gergurich, who has waited for a week and a half for another chance to contribute, followed with a sharp single up the middle, scoring Durfee. The lead was now 4-2.

After Viking starter Will Griebe-Arzate tired and gave up three runs to RBV in the top of the fifth on four singles, that set up the hosts for the late-inning comeback.

In the bottom of the seventh, La Jolla facing elimination, Obler, batting for shortstop Brady Wilson, hit a dunker into right to lead off.

Strauss, in the first slot, sacrificed him to second. Harper: "It was a fastball, middle-in. I was looking for it." Lane lined a rocket to right-center, bringing Oliver around. Tie ballgame.

Harper was thrown out at third base trying to advance on Charlie Martin's groundball to short, and the Vikings could do no more in the seventh inning.

In the first extra inning, Andrew Cardenas, called to pitch in another must-win game (6 2/3 innings versus Lincoln last Friday in the title decider), got the Longhorns out in short order, allowing a walk.

In the bottom of the eighth, after Durfee struck out, "Snacks" Gergurich walked. He was singled to second on Reed Hunter's infield hit gloved by shortstop Noah Lowman.

An intentional walk was issued to Brady Wilson, loading the bags. Strauss was hit by pitch by Collin LaVigne, RBV's third pitcher, and the Vikings had a walk-off win.

LJ baseball: The bats woke up

By Ed Piper

Every spot in the lineup got a hit except Harper Lane, who contributed plenty as the ballhawk he is in centerfield and two walks he contributed, the first leading to the Vikings' first run, in La Jolla's play-in victory Tues., May 19.

It was a welcome sign, after freshman righthander Sebas Estrada throttled the offense last Mon., May 11, then two different hurlers did the same in the Wed., May 13 game--both against Lincoln in the regular-season-ending series.

Catcher Carter Strauss had two RBI's, one in the fourth inning and another in the seventh when the Vikes added two runs for insurance. It gave them a little bit of a mental cushion when Vista came back with two runs in the last of the seventh.

Joseph Crudo, moved over to second base, had the two-run double that started things off in the top of the first, plating Lane and Charlie Martin.

One challenge a member of the peanut gallery sees after the last two weeks of play, going into today's contest against visiting Rancho Buena Vista: Coach Gary Frank has stayed pretty much with the same lineup last week (versus Lincoln in three games) and Tuesday. Some of the players sitting out have been watching for quite a few innings, and in crunch time when the games mean more in the past 10 days.

Can they respond? Will the alternate platooners get a chance to respond and contribute today, and tomorrow, if La Jolla wins today?

That's one thing a coach obviously wants to keep in mind. The red-and-black have several players "in the rotation", who have played regularly during the 2026 season, and they're used to the work.

Zach "Snacks" Gergurich has had one at-bat, pinch-hitting for Brady Wilson in the seventh inning at Vista. He walked. (He hasn't been on the mound either lately.)

Also used to playing time are Renner Smith (second base) and Luke Cripe (outfield).

I can hear the lyrics by John Fogerty, "Put me in, Coach/I'm ready to play today/Put me in, Coach/I'm ready to play/Look at me, I can be centerfield."

LJ baseball: No bus = forfeit = rested starter

By Ed Piper

The Vikings' trip to Blythe for a playoff game Wed., May 20, turned out to be longer--or shorter, depending on how you look at it--than planned. Chuck Podhorsky, principal at La Jolla High, said at the Viking softball team's playoff game Wednesday afternoon, "(Head Coach) Gary Frank said the bus company said it would be two hours or more (before they could deliver transportation to the school)."

The baseball team's scheduled time for departure was 10 a.m., since the trip covers 148 miles via Highway 78, not a freeway at express speed.

By the two hours later, or more, it would have been impossible to arrive at Palo Verde Valley High four hours away in time to warm up and play the Division 3 game.

This is the first time any school I have been associated with, that I remember, in my lifetime had to forfeit a postseason game--or any game--due to lack of transportation.

The advantage: Starter Will Griebe-Arzate is rested, and ready for the Vikings' home game today, Fri., May 22, against Rancho Buena Vista, who lost their playoff game.

The disadvantage: The Viking unit goes in with one loss already against them, in a double-elimination format. If Harper Lane, Charlie Martin, and company win today's game against RBV, they earn the right to play again Sat., May 23.

LJ softball: Senior Game 5/14

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ softball: Photos 5/20

Photos by Ed Piper

Maddie Ehlert (13) leads off third base

in the bottom of the second inning. The senior

was stranded after La Jolla scored three runs

in the inning.

Hailey (left) and Jenny (right) Pace hold

baby Joey (named after his grandpa) at the

LJ softball playoff Wed., May 20. Joey makes

Viking wrestler Noah Pace an uncle (again).

Joey is five months old.

LJ softball 19, Orange Glen 3 - shortened 5-inning game - CIF D5 1st round

Shortstop/pitcher Ella Pearl (2) hits a ground ball

in the bottom of the second. The sophomore

ended up reaching base on a groundout

fielder's choice.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, the number-one seed in the Division 5 playoffs, drubbed visiting Orange Glen, 19-3, in a five-inning game shortened by the 10-run rule after five innings. The playoff game took place on the Vikings' home field.

Coach Anthony Sarain's Central League champs (8-0) scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, after Orange Glen pushed across a single run in the top of the frame. Senior Jacey Taylor singled to drive in Ella Pearl for the first run. Pearl had walked and stolen second base.

Catcher Aviv Laska, hitting in the fourth slot, got aboard via an errant throw by the third baseman, with Taylor coming around to score.

Maddie Ehlert, playing second base, then hit a single. Freshman Ellie Thomson bunted, causing further confusion in the infield, resulting in Ehlert also reaching the plate.

The Vikings, now gaining momentum, scored three more runs in the second. They exploded in the bottom of the fourth, plating a dozen runs to achieve a 10-run-plus advantage to invoke the mercy rule.

Taylor, tied for the school career home run record at 27, had two singles in four plate appearances, with two walks.

LJ baseball: The prize - 8 hours of driving

By Ed Piper

La Jolla, by winning Tuesday's (May 19) CIF play-in game at Vista, gets rewarded with an eight-hour, four-hours-each-way drive to Blythe today, May 20, to face Palo Verde in the first "real" round of the Division 3 playoffs.

Said Paolo Bregant, with an injured shoulder, at Monday's (May 18) Padres-Dodgers game at Petco Park, where I ran into him on the trolley, "Palo Verde is (supposed to be) pretty good."

Said someone in the Vikings' dugout Tuesday during the win over host Vista, "Even El Centro hates to play Palo Verde" (because of the long drive).

This reporter is not going to drive there. (In fact, at this writing, 12:27 p.m., I would never make the four-hour drive in time for the start of the game in Blythe.) Some of the La Jolla side attendees yesterday were talking about going: principal Chuck Podhorsky, who said motel rooms were $59 if he stayed overnight; Rich Cardenas, father of Andrew and Emily, wasn't sure, but I can't imagine him not going; Jose Arzate, the father of probable starter Will Griebe-Arzate, said he couldn't go due to work.

My Google Maps app on my iPhone says the 148 miles to PVVHS ("Valley" comes after Palo Verde) would take three hours, 40 minutes. My wife thought I was going to go when I called her driving home to Clairemont from Vista and told her the distance. I said no.

The route, which I have never taken from San Diego, goes east on I-8, exit near Holtville (for the annual wrestling tournament) on Highway 111, north on Highway 115, east on the continuation of the 78 (which begins in North County in Oceanside), and north on South Lovekin Blvd. Insane.

Instead, I'll take the easy drive from Rancho Bernardo, back to the Clairemont area, on to La Jolla High, for the softball team's opening Division 5 playoff game at home.