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.

LJ baseball: Avenging a 17-0 loss

By Ed Piper

Johnny Agbulos, La Jolla assistant coach, said before the Vikings' play-in game at Vista Tues., May 19, "In 2016 (when he was a senior in high school), we lost to Vista 17-0. We got one hit.

"They (the host Panthers) earned it. It was in Division 1."

Said the fifth-year coach: "La Jolla lost to Poway in the CIF semis. Now it's up to the 2026 Viking team to avenge that loss."

Quite a history. An ancient era for today's student-athletes. But Agbulos let everyone know about the bigger picture, during Head Coach Gary Frank's tenure (which goes way back).

*  *  *

LJ baseball 8, Vista 4 - D3 play-in round - 5/19

Harper Lane (center) runs to the plate, followed closely

by Charlie Martin, as Coach Gary Frank (far right)

signals to hold up Ryan Khourajian (not in view)

at third base. Joseph Crudo had the big blow,

a two-run double in the top of the first

as La Jolla broke out to a 2-0 lead at Vista.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Joseph Crudo had a key knock with a two-run double as La Jolla scored three runs in the top of the first and went on to defeat Vista, 8-4, in a CIF Division 3 play-in round game Tuesday, May 19.

A teammate said Crudo had a "solid playoff day" or close to that after the second baseman hit the double, a single, and another double from the fifth slot in the order during the postseason game.

After experiencing offensive troubles against Lincoln in losses earlier last week, then scoring five runs in the fourth Friday to clinch the City League title by the narrowest of margins over the Hornets (half a game in the standings), Coach Gary Frank's Vikings put up three runs in the first inning, then three more in the fourth, to win going away over the host Panthers on a hot Vista day.

Against starter Seth Coleman, Harper Lane walked after Carter Strauss, leading off with a walk, was thrown out trying to steal in the top of the first.

Charlie Martin singled, then Ryan Khourajian--sporting a 1.148 OPS--followed with another single off the righthander to load the bases.

This is the view Vista batters had of Charlie

Smith on the mound. The lefthander mixed

curves and fastballs to keep the Panther offense

under control, allowing eight hits and pitching

only one inning in which VHS scored two runs.

Crudo, a junior hitting .404, looking calm but determined, doubled over leftfielder Sonny Prue's head to plate Lane and Martin. Frank, coaching third base, held up Khourajian on third as the throw came in.

The Vikings weren't done, though. Hunter Durfee bounced a hard single into right field, bringing Khourajian in to score. Reed Turner lined out sharply to third baseman Noah Huezo to end the inning. The visitors led, 3-0.

Panther the pig (my name for him) in the Ag Dept.

at Vista High waits before the start of the

Vikings-Vista play-in game Tuesday afternoon.

Good Bunny doesn't rap but he sits across

from the hog in the animal compound

on campus.

LJ softball: Open D5 playoffs Wed., 5/20

By Ed Piper

La Jolla's softball team (8-0 in the Central League, 13-11 overall) opens the Division 5 playoffs Wed., May 20 at home, riding a 10-game winning streak.

Starting pitcher Jacey Taylor, in the pitching circle because Coach Anthony Sarain doesn't have anyone else--except shortstop Ella Pearl, who usually takes over for Taylor in later innings as another member of the team playing out of position--will have another chance to break La Jolla's school record for home runs in a career.

Jacey (playing for the Vikings 2023-2026) hit three home runs Thurs., May 14, in LJHS's final regular season game against High Tech. That puts her at 27 for her quadrennium at the coastal school, tying Emmy Cardenas (2020-2023).

Taylor, with her third home run in a shortened five-inning game, broke Emmy's single-season record, 12 home runs, with her 13th shot of the season.

After her first home run on the day, a line drive to center-right, which this reporter witnessed, she came back to the Vikings' dugout and declared, "I didn't think it was going to be a home run."

"We go as far as our pitching takes us," was Sarain's basic statement as his team increased their league-winning advantage over Kearny (4-4), Hoover (4-4), High Tech (3-5), and Crawford (1-7).

Sarain's 2016 team won the CIF Division 4 title, and finished as runner-up the next year, 2015.

La Jolla's last league title was 2021, when Cardenas was a sophomore. "They just walked her the next year," said her dad, Rich, of the 2022 season, when the Vikings' cupboard was more bare of talent at multiple positions.

This team has anchors at catcher (junior Aviv Laska), third base (freshman Ellie Thomson), shortstop (Pearl, a sophomore), and centerfield (senior Savannah Putnam). Putnam was named to the all-league team last year.

Taylor and Pearl appear to be in consideration for league Player of the Year, determined by the coaches, usually the pennant-winner. They could be named co-Players of the Year, or one solo. It would be unthinkable that Jacey would not be named to at least share that honor. She is the only player in the Viking dugout with more than one home run, and her RBI total (66) more than doubles the next closest player (Aviv, with 31).

Pearl has 12 doubles, Taylor 15.

La Jolla's opponent Wednesday is Orange Glen, who is seeded eighth. (The Vikes are seeded first.) LJHS has home field advantage throughout the playoffs, since they go in with the top seed.

Southwest (SD) is seeded second and is playing in the lower bracket, to spread the favored teams across the brackets. To show you how fast the team quality falls off, no respect meant for the other squads, Hoover is seeded fourth. La Jolla demolished the Cardinals in league, 24-12 and 26-6.

LJ baseball: Vikings' comments before Senior Game 5/13

By Ed Piper

Before La Jolla's Senior Game Wednesday, May 13, head coach Gary Frank was asked the "mindset" for his players for the impending game against Lincoln, which had won Monday's game, delaying the Vikings' from celebrating the City League title.

Frank was serious--more serious than two days later before the third game against Lincoln.

"We're just going to try to play well and finish our last game," the 30-year head coach said.

Talk about your seniors.

"A great group of kids, like every four years. We've had a great run. We're going to miss them." Seven seniors were honored before the game, with their families walking from third base to home plate, and the individual players walked from first base under bats held over their heads--a La Jolla tradition whose origin this reporter doesn't know--by teammates on each side of the baseline midway to home plate.

Players joined family at the plate, after which Stephanie Alvarez took photos.

Frank was asked, when was your last league title?

"2022, Hank (Hansen's) freshman year." This year's seniors were eighth-graders looking up.

What is a key for today?

"Play our game. Note let the moment be too big. Get one more win today." The Vikings lost, setting up Friday's title-deciding game at Lincoln.

*  *  *

Ryan Khourajian, a midseason transfer from Cathedral Catholic, has had a stellar second half of the season, playing first base and catching.

In Wednesday's (May 13) game, Frank listed Khourajian to start behind the plate, moving Carter Strauss to second base. Ryan: "Obviously, I like catching. It's my main (position), but also first base. I've been playing it (first base) a lot lately. I'm tall (an advantage at first base)."

*  *  *

Seniors and their favorite MLB player, announced during the Senior Game festivities:

Andrew Cardenas - Jackson Merrill, Padres

Harper Lane - Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers (retired)

Charlie "Chubs" Martin - Michael Jordan (teammates laughed at this - not known for his baseball!)

Oliver Obler - Travis Jankowski

Luke Cripe - Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

Zoran Shepanski - Jake Cronenworth, Padres

Renner Smith - Jedd Gyorko, former Padre

LJ softball: Jacey hitting homers 'was great'

By Ed Piper

Emmy Cardenas attended La Jolla's baseball game Friday, May 15, at Lincoln to decide the league title.

Cardenas, the LJHS solo record-holder for home runs in a season and in a career until last week (May 14), was asked about first baseman Jacey Taylor's three home runs in Thursday's game against High Tech High. The trio of blasts broke Emmy's single-season record of 12, setting it to 13. Taylor tied Cardenas' career record at 27 homers.

Smiling, she said, "It was great. I was asking her before the third one, 'Have you ever hit three home runs in a game?' She said, 'No.' I haven't either--I hit two in a game.

"Then she it it (the third homer)."

The first shot was a line drive over the fence in center-right. "I didn't think it was going to go out," said Jacey to her teammates when she got back to the dugout.

After a reporter left, her other two home runs went to center-left, one into the planter with palm trees beyond centerfield.

LJ baseball: 'Just another day at the office'

By Ed Piper

The stage was set, and La Jolla coach Gary Frank was standing outside the slim dugout on the Lincoln High School field Friday afternoon, May 15. He was asked what the team's mindset was, going into the title decider:

"To come out and play a good game, play to the best of our ability, and we should be fine.

"Just another day at the office."

Obviously, the long-time head coach was trying to project calm and to set a tone for his players. They had lost two straight to the Hornets in the three-game series to end the City League schedule, and they needed to change whatever they were doing.

The dugout, before Frank's response to a reporter's query, was eerily quiet. Hopefully, it communicated grit and resolve, but you didn't know if the silence was going to lead to an activated state on the field--after a pair of disappointments earlier in the week, 3-1 and 6-2.

Frank was asked, "Who is a key player or key players in the game today?"

"Every one on the roster. We're going to need 16 deep to win this game today." The Vikings did, by a breath, 7-6.

*  *  *

Senior Andrew Cardenas was slated to start on the mound for La Jolla. Pitching coach Koa Scott described Cardenas' pitch mix:

"Four-seam cutter, two-seam cutter, curveball, and changeup."

How does he have to use his repertoire to be effective?

"Low in the zone, try to get (outs)."

*  *  *

Frank, before that, said what his senior righthander needed to do:

    --"Command the zone."

    --"Pitch to poor contact."

    --"Let our defense do their work."

LJ baseball: Senior Game 5/13

Photos by Ed Piper

LJ track @ CIF D3 Finals @ Canyon Hills - 5/16

Photos by Ed Piper

Leed Smoole (center) wins his heat in the 100 meters

and the Division 3 title at the D3 Finals

Sat., May 16, at Canyon Hills.

Check out the quad muscle

on his left leg as he makes

his last steps before the

finish line.

Janae Stanley-Castillo unleashes a third throw

in the finals of 38'9" to take second place

in the division.

Janae, a junior, with her dad, Ivan Castillo:

"He made breakfast for me this morning. I don't

usually eat breakfast. I didn't like it. He cooked

two eggs, hashed browns, and avocado.

But it was good protein."

The sportswriter/photographer's

choice of Kona ice: five different

flavors, tons of syrup before

the competition. (Note pen in hand.)

LJ baseball 7, Lincoln 6 - decides City League title - 5/15

Senior Andrew Cardenas threw 6 2/3 innings

of ball in the title decider at Lincoln,

bringing the Vikings to the brink of a title.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

In the contentious fourth inning on Lincoln's home field Friday evening, May 15, La Jolla scored five runs against reliever Dom Mendoza to move out to a 6-0 lead.

After a foul popup by Viking Brady Wilson fell uncaught, Hornet coach Jesse De La Torre claimed that his two infielders on the left side, the shortstop and third baseman, had somehow been interfered with by the opposing third-base coach, Viking head coach Gary Frank. The game was delayed while De La Torre went out on the field, pointing and arguing his case with the plate umpire.

With the tension now so thick you could cut it, Lincoln came back with five runs of their own in the bottom of the seventh inning to pin the Vikings' backs against the wall: Could they survive the rally, hold on, and win the City League title after losing two straight games to their rivals down the 805 Monday and Wednesday?

After a courageous six-and-2/3-inning performance by righthander Andrew Cardenas, Frank brought in ace Charlie Smith with one out left to be recorded in the game. After walking pesky catcher/pitcher Oscar Lopez, the sophomore gave up a home run to Mendoza--his third in the three games this week--to bring home a trio of runs.

It was now 7-6, and La Jolla had no more room for error to take home the elusive championship in regulation innings. Smith then calmly induced Ari Estrada, the Hornets' fourth-slot hitter, to pop out to shortstop Brady Wilson, and the bench ran out to mob Charlie and celebrate briefly.

Vikings players stream from the bench to join

players on the field after the final out

at 6:45 p.m.--a long, long game.

It was an almost-bitter victory that will long be remembered in red-and-black circles. The what-if's are horrendous, but thankfully for Frank and gang, the newly-crowned City League champs await Division 3 postseason play Wed., May 20.

*  *  *

In the said fourth inning, Hunter Durfee got aboard on a hit-by-pitch. Mendoza, a sophomore, then walked Reed Turner. Zach Gergurich bunted, fielded by Mendoza in front of the mound. Dominick whirled to throw a laser to get Durfee at third, but he was too late. That loaded the bases.

Brady Wilson flied out to left, temporarily lowering the dial on the momentum. Back to the top of the order, Carter Strauss walked, forcing in the first of the five runs, giving La Jolla a 2-0 lead.

Harper Lane hit a laser that hit off first baseman Isaiah Kellough's glove, and beyond him onto the infield dirt, plating Turner. Charlie Martin, after back-to-back strikeouts earlier, lofted a fly to right, where replaced starter Sebas Estrada was now stationed, for a sacrifice fly, driving in "Snacks" Gergurich.

Ryan Khourajian then singled sharply to right, and the fifth and final run scored in the person of Harper Lane. The Vikings led, 6-0.

Lincoln pitcher Sebas Estrada tags Joseph Crudo

of La Jolla on the right heel, way too late

after Crudo slides into home safely on a passed ball

in the top of the second inning. It was

the Vikings' first run. On the same play, the home plate

umpire got hit below the right wrist with the pitch.

Both coaches rushed out to check on him.

LJ softball 20, Hi Tech 2 - 5-inning shortened game - 5/14

 

Viking senior Jacey Taylor (11) sends a line drive

over the fence in right-centerfield for her 11th home run

of the season, 25th in her career in the first inning

against Hi Tech High Thurs., May 14.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Senior Jacey Taylor blasted three home runs in front of family and an adoring Senior Day crowd, and La Jolla completed a perfect 8-0 Central League season with a 20-2 win over visiting High Tech High Thurs., May 14.

Taylor, a first baseman who starts the Vikings' games this season in the pitching circle in the absence of any pitching specialists, clobbered four hits in five trips to the plate, with the other at-bat a base on balls. Her trio of homers broke the old record of 12 in a season (by Emmy Cardenas, who was in attendance), and tied Cardenas' school record of career home runs at 27.

Meanwhile, the league-champion Vikings steamrolled High Tech, on 17 hits bunched into three big innings before the game was called after five innings.

Taylor gets mobbed by her teammates as she

crosses home plate after the home run. She later

hit two more home runs to break the single-season

record and tie the career home run record

for La Jolla High.

LJ baseball 2, Lincoln 6 - 5/13

Lincoln rightfielder Dom Mendoza (on ground

in background) is helped up by a teammate after

he slid across the cement on his spikes at Muirlands,

catching a long foul ball by Harper Lane of La Jolla.

But the catch was ruled out of bounds, and

Lane (not pictured) walked on the next pitch

in the bottom of the third inning.

(Photos by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

Lincoln lost their first two games to Morse last week, May 4 and 6, before eking out a win in the three-game league series Fri., May 8.

That put the Hornets and Coach Jesse De La Torre in a 4-4-1 hole, two and a half games behind City League leader La Jolla (7-2 at that point), tied with Scripps Ranch for second place.

On Wed., May 13, Lincoln did the same thing Morse did to them last week to the Vikings, winning its second game in a row to force a do-or-die game deciding the league championship on Lincoln's home field Fri., May 15.

The question remaining: Will La Jolla (7-4) win the third game, the same way Lincoln (6-4-1) did against Morse last week?

How it got to this point:

The visiting Hornets, ruining the hosts' Senior Game honoring seven graduating 12th-graders, jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third on Ari Estrada's bases-clearing double to center. The fly went over centerfielder Harper Lane's head, not a small feat, in Ronnie Spellman Field's roomy outfield.

The Vikings countered, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth on Hunter Durfee's sacrifice fly to center, driving in Ryan Khourajian from third. Khourajian had singled for the second time to left, moved to second on a walk to Joseph Crudo, and took third on a wild pitch.

Coach Gary Frank's thinking before the game on starting Durfee at first base, moving Khourajian from first to behind the plate and starting catcher Carter Strauss to second base: "To get another bat in the lineup. Some guys have not been hitting the last few games."

Viking Andrew Cardenas (7) scores on a basehit

by Harper Lane in the top of the fifth, with

LJHS coach Gary Frank (4) running alongside

him from the third base coach's box.

The Vikings now trailed 3-2.

Plus, "Ryan and (starting pitcher) Will (Griebe-Arzate) grew up together. Giving guys opportunities."

Griebe-Arzate's curveball was good, and his velocity on his fastball seemed elevated. He got stronger in the fourth and fifth innings, striking out the side in the top of the fourth, all three on called third strikes, using his slower curve to offset his fastball.

In the fifth, the junior struck out two of three batters, inducing soft contact on the other out (a groundball to Durfee for a tagout along the first base line).

In the bottom of the fifth, Lane, hitting in the second slot, struck a hard grounder through the hole to right field, bringing Will around from second. La Jolla trailed, 3-2. Griebe-Arzate had led off the inning with a solid single to center. Strauss sacrifice-bunted him to second.

The Hornets went up 4-2 in the top of the sixth on a groundball by Alexis Padilla to second base for an error. Estrada came around to score from second.

In the top of the seventh, Frank inserted Lane on the mound after Griebe-Arzate's six innings of work. Will only allowed three hits, struck out nine, and walked two.

Rightfielder Dom Mendoza, a lefty hitter who blasted a two-run first-inning home run Monday for the Lincoln difference, crushed another one to straightaway-right, clearing the fence about 355 feet away and bouncing on the Muirlands pavement beyond. That closed out the scoring.

LJ baseball: In the visitors' dugout

Lincoln coach Jesse De La Torre (middle) gives

his athletes a motivational talk during a

between-innings huddle in front of the visitors

dugout at Muirlands Wed., May 13.

(Photo by Ed Piper)

By Ed Piper

I had an interesting experience during the Vikings' game versus Lincoln Wed., May 13. I spent most of the game at the end of the Lincoln dugout.

It's a common place where photographers get a clear view of the pitcher and the rest of play. There is a lot more room there to move around, and to stand at the fence, next to the field. The La Jolla dugout and sidelines were filled with people for the Senior Game and crucial game against the Hornets, in which the City League title is at stake.

The Lincoln head coach, Jesse De La Torre, began an off-and-on conversation with me during the game. I found that quite interesting, since coaches are pretty much occupied with the game, especially one as important as this, which the visitors won, 6-2, setting up a do-or-die game Fri., May 15, to decide the league title.

De La Torre was also the third base coach when the Lincoln bats were at the plate. So he was a busy man. He asked how long I was reporting games; I said about 12 years (for the La Jolla Village News; actually 20 years with photos and my blog on Head Coach Gary Frank's Vikings, dating back to a game at Canyon Crest in about 2006--my granddaughter was a sophomore or junior).

I said I played baseball in youth ball (also up to American Legion, but I didn't mention that to De La Torre). He definitely wanted to know who he was sharing space with in the visitors' dugout.

Another photographer from La Jolla went up on the "roof" (platform) behind the dugout (Stephanie Alvarez). So, there were other people around. A female student photog from LJHS came into the dugout, where there is space at the far end where such observers often stand and do their work.

A male student came and sat inside the fence, on the playing field. He probably got great photos; I didn't say anything to him--he might get kicked off the actual field, if an umpire or coach took offense.

At one point, I walked up to the assistant coach near the other end of the dugout who was keeping a scorebook and asked him about a player.

So, De La Torre was aware I was moving around. He could have said, "Please remove yourself from the (main part of the) dugout," but he didn't.

Later, as Lincoln forged ahead, he giving intense coaching-up to one player to correct him, teach him, and motivate him in front of the dugout not too far away from me, he asked me, "So, do you write a story on every game?"

"No, I cover all sports at La Jolla, so I will write a game story only once in a while," I said. He was probably curious about what I knew about the Viking team. "I wrote a story on the game Monday (May 11, when Lincoln also won, 3-1)."

There was a kind of mutual respect, I was feeling. He didn't scoff and look down on me. Years ago, I went onto the field between innings to take a photo of the pitcher warming up at Mission Bay and the opposing coach scowled, shouting, "Get off the field!" So you never know what reaction you're going to get.

Much to Gary's credit, from that first game at Canyon Crest, he told me when I began to move out of his way, "No, stay (in the dugout). Make yourself at home." Which was pretty incredible, giving me the feeling I had the freedom to roam about the Vikings' dugout during the game taking photos.

The Lincoln players started from the beginning of the game with quite a ruckus from the dugout, doing chants, making quite a bit of noise, razzing Will Grebe-Arzate, starting on the mound for La Jolla.

It turned kind of pure "street" when a La Jolla player called out, "Balk", on Lincoln's pitcher. De La Torre went to the home plate umpire and pointed the player out.

A player in La Jolla's dugout responded, "We're good. We got you." I thought they were going to keep it in check.

Instead, Viking players began a calling out of "Balk" more than once or twice the rest of the game, just to get back at De La Torre and his minions.

Lincoln players, in English and Spanish, made some intelligible and some unintelligible sounds and chants. Hey, they won, more credit to them.

By winning the first two games between the two teams, De La Torre's squad has really put the pressure on La Jolla. "They have to beat you," said the coach to his team during Wednesday's game. Somehow, they have played loose enough to win to get to this point.

LJ softball 26, Hoover 6 - 5 innings - 5/12

By Ed Piper

Viking senior Jacey Taylor is pursuing the La Jolla High season record (12) and career record (27) for home runs, set by Emmy Cardenas in 2020-2023.

In the Vikes' game Tuesday, May 12, the pitcher/first baseman got a single in five trips to the plate--taking three walks--as Coach Anthony Sarain's squad suffocated visiting Hoover, 26-6, in a shortened five-inning game.

The powerful Taylor presently has 10 homers this season, and 24 for her career--the latter which holds the advantage of consisting of four full seasons, without a COVID interruption.

She could be helped in her pursuit by the continuation of the season into CIF Division 4 playoff games beginning next week. LJHS is presently ranked number one in the division on MaxPreps.

Sarain agreed Jacey, the big boomer in the La Jolla lineup, could be named Player of the Year as his team has already clinched the Central League title (at 7-0 with one game to play) and she is a focal point for the Vikings' offense.

"But Ella (Pearl) would be a good choice, too," he said near the dugout before the 20-run shellacking of the Cardinals. "She is hitting .500" (presently, May 13, .522). (Taylor leads the team at .631.) Pearl, a sophomore, knocked out a single in five plate appearances, receiving two walks.

The game got off to an auspicious, and long, start in the bottom of the first when the hosts scored 14 runs to put the game away. They followed up with seven runs in the bottom of the third.

Freshman Ellie Thomson, playing third base, had a two-run single in the first inning. Savannah Putnam, whose Senior Game is Thursday, May 14, led off with a bunt single and came around to score. Besides Taylor, the other seniors are Maddie Quach and Maddie Ehlert.