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.