Orange Lutheran rallies in sixth inning to defeat Mater Dei

Orange Lutheran took care of business in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs with two outs and holding on to defeat Mater Dei, 4-1, in a Trinity League game at Hart Park in Orange.

With the victory, the Lancers clinched a share of the league title.

Josh Doyle, a sophomore left-fielder, had a run-scoring double in the sixth and sophomore designated hitter Dillon Bryant followed with a two-run single. Gerrit Cole, pictured, who finished with a three-hitter and 11 strikeouts, then put the Monarchs to bed by striking out the side in the seventh to improve to 7-1.

"When we're on a roll -- we're unstoppable,'' Cole said afterward.

-- Dan Arritt

-- Image by Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times

Boys' volleyball: Mira Costa closes out season with grudge match

You may think the Mira Costa Mustangs will coast for the remainder of the season. You may think they will tinker and tweak for the last few games to prepare for the postseason.

You would be wrong.

Sure, Mira Costa (25-5, 7-0) has already clinched the Bay League crown but it has one big match remaining -- or should we say one big grudge match.

On Friday, the Mustangs, ranked No. 3 in the Southern Section Division I coaches' poll, will play host to nonleague opponent Santa Barbara, which has handed Mira Costa two of its five losses this season. The Dons are ranked No. 2 in Division II.

-- Anthony Stitt

 

Baseball: Mater Dei gets even with Orange Lutheran

All tied at 1-1 in this Trinity League game between No. 4 Orange Lutheran and No. 5 Mater Dei at Hart Park in Orange.

Cory Hahn led off the top of the sixth with a perfectly placed bunt up the third-base line. Orange Lutheran pitcher Gerrit Cole bobbled the ball, then threw wildly to first, allowing Hahn to take second on the play.

Cole then threw a wild pitch, allowing Hahn to reach third with no outs.

With the infield in, sophomore Jacob Medina slapped a 3-1 pitch up the middle to drive in the tying run.

I can see this game going extra innings.

-- Dan Arritt

Pitching leading the way in Orange Lutheran-Mater Dei showdown

Not much has changed since the last time I checked in. Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 4 in the Southland by The Times, leads, 1-0, heading into the top of the sixth inning against No. 5 Mater Dei at Hart Park in Orange.

Gerrit Cole has given up one hit and one walk through five innings, striking out six and driving in the only run with a first-inning two-out single.

Junior right-hander Aaron Northcraft hasn't been bad either for the Monarchs, giving up only three hits through five innings.

This game is moving quicker than a McDonald's drive-thru line at lunch hour.

-- Dan Arritt

Cole's RBI single gives Orange Lutheran early lead

Nice evening for a ballgame here at Hart Park in Orange.

Orange Lutheran, ranked No. 4 in the Southland by The Times, is hosting No. 5 Mater Dei in a Trinity League showdown.

Gerrit Cole is on the mound for the Lancers and he helped his cause with a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first inning and his team leads, 1-0, in the bottom of the second.

Cole gave up a base hit in the first but bounced back to strike out the first two batters in the second while retiring the side in order.

--Dan Arritt

Baseball: West Torrance ends Palos Verdes' win streak

There are great games, then there are classics. Today's was a mega-classic.

For nine innings, West Torrance and host Palos Verdes each painted a masterpiece -- yielding a combined no runs -- then, in the 10th, the Warriors' Aaron DeGuire launched a double off the center-field wall, scoring Mason Morioko for the lone run of Wednesday's game.

The Warriors and the Sea Kings are now tied for first place in the Bay League and will play each other again on Friday at West Torrance.

Los Osos' Brehaut emerging as a legitimate prospect

Richard Brehaut has flown underneath the radar of football scouts for a while now. But the lack of attention from the powers that be could very well end up becoming a thing of the past, considering all the recognition the junior from Los Osos has been receiving lately.

The 6-foot-2 quarterback picked up his first offer, from San Diego St., in March. Soon after, Boise St. and Colorado followed suit. Not surprisingly, Arizona and Washington St. joined in on the Brehaut sweepstakes last week. All of a sudden, there are plenty of programs waiting for a commitment. 

An offer from Arizona St. looms as a possibility, and Purdue and Notre Dame are rumored to have been in contact with him. UCLA is interested, too, so don't be surprised to see the Bruins step up their efforts to land Brehaut, who can no longer be considered an afterthought on the recruiting landscape.   

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Football: Two big men from Inland Empire opening some scouts' eyes

Michael Philipp and Gavin Pascarella have called the Inland Empire home for quite some time, a majority of their respective lives, in fact. This time next year, however, both juniors figure to be on the verge of moving on, leaving their I.E. nest for a new adventure in college.

Philipp is one of the most sought-after guards on the West Coast. Nearly every PAC-10 school, with the exception of USC, is recruiting the 6-foot-4, 300-plus pounder from Arroyo Valley. If the big-time buzz surrounding Phillip continues, his status as a sleeper on the national scene could be a temporary thing.

Pascarella, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound tackle from Corona Centennial, picked up his first two offers recently, from Air Force and Army. Other schools expressing interest include: Arizona State, Stanford and UCLA. Recruiters from Colorado, Notre Dame and Georgia Tech have been in contact with him as well.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Basketball: Fremont standout gets Loyola Marymount scholarship

Laron Armstead, a 6-foot-5 senior All-City basketball player at Fremont, has accepted a scholarship to Loyola Marymount.

First-year Coach Bill Bayno recruited Armstead, who averaged nearly 20 points for the City Section semifinalists.

Armstead was rewarded for his outstanding academics, dedication and character. He refused to abandon Fremont when the school was banned from the playoffs for two years for rule violations.

-- Eric Sondheimer

-- Image by Spencer Weiner/Los Angeles Times

Head to Palos Verdes for baseball brouhaha

Just a reminder, there will be a South Bay brouhaha in about two hours when West Torrance heads to Palos Verdes. Game time is at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

A couple of things are on the line.

First, there is Palos Verdes' unbelievable 20-game win streak. Second, there's the Bay League crown. Palos Verdes (23-3, 6-0) has not lost since March 12 while West Torrance (20-3, 5-1) has won 17 of 18 games. Hopefully, both teams will throw their undefeated aces -- Kyle Petter for West Torrance and Nate Halverson for the Sea Kings.