Sharks 5, Montclair Prep 4

With the Sharks trailing 3-2 in the sixth inning, Daniel Williams blasted a three-run homer to put the Sharks ahead in what ended as a 5-4 win over seventh-ranked Montclair Prep. Williams was two for three with two runs scored and a stolen base as he raised his league-leading batting average to .594 and his slugging percentage to .938.

For the first four innings Aaron Westine and Montclair's Michael Trump were involved in a pitching duel. Malibu got on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when Williams led off with a walk, stole second, and scored when Brooks Fitch doubled to left with two outs. Montclair Prep answered with a run in the bottom of the second, but Westine got out of a bases-loaded jam in the third and left the game after four innings with the score tied, 1-1.

Montclair Prep took the lead in the fifth inning. Colbie Bell, on in relief of Westine, struck out the side, but two infield errors and a single produced two unearned runs for the Mounties.

In the top of the sixth, Alex Beck led off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Geoff Roth popped out to the second baseman, Bell grounded to third. A wild throw ended up out of play bringing Beck in to score the second run of the game for Malibu. Stephen Williams followed with a walk, setting the stage for his older brother's big hit. On the first pitch from Trump, Williams drove the ball over the centerfield fence to put Malibu in the lead for good.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bell gave way to closer Geoff Roth following a one-out walk. Roth struck out both batters he faced in the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Roth gave up a leadoff single before getting two groundballs that were turned into outs at second base. The second fielder's choice left the batter on second as Jason Puklus's throw to first in an effort to complete the double play was wide of the mark. One run scored on a single to right, but Roth closed off the rally with a strikeout.

For Malibu, Michael Gwyn and Alex Beck both had two hits. Jason Puklus stole two bases on the day and Brooks Fitch got his first stolen base of the season.

Next up for the Sharks is a league game against Santa Paula on Tuesday afternoon in Malibu.