Scouting Report: Montclair Prep Mounties

The Sharks take on the Montclair Prep Mounties in a non-league game today at Malibu High beginning at 3:15 p.m. The Mounties are 5-4-1 so far with wins over Hueneme, Pacifica, Calabasas, Salesian, and Monroe.

Montclair Prep's manager Matt Whisenant is fielding a young team this season with one senior, three juniors, six sophomores, and four freshmen on the roster.

In their only meeting in 2005, Malibu defeated Montclair Prep, 5-4, on a three-run homerun in the sixth inning by Daniel Williams off Michael Trump. (Colbie Bell and Stephen Williams scored on the round-tripper, which saw the Mounties' center fielder tumble over the fence in pursuit of the ball.)

"Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone"

Nor, apparently, when the Fillmore Flashes are scheduled to visit Malibu.

Today's game is rained out.

The Three-Four Punch

The Brooks Fitch-Stephen Williams combination in the middle of the Sharks' lineup is proving to be one of the most productive ever for the Sharks. Through ten games, Fitch is hitting .520 and has scored nine runs. Williams is hitting .484 and has driven in sixteen runs.

Oak Park 14, Sharks 7

The Oak Park Eagles scored nine runs in the third inning and defeated Malibu by a score of 14-7 in a non-league game on Saturday. The Sharks dropped to 5-5 on the season as the Eagles ran their winning streak to six games.

Malibu got on the scoreboard early as Brooks Fitch hit a two-out solo homer to left in the top of the first. Stephen Williams followed with a double, the first of three on the day for the sophomore catcher, but was left on base as Mike Gwyn grounded out to end the inning.

Oak Park countered with an unearned run in the bottom of the first. Shortstop Zach Granowitz reached on an error and immediately advanced to third when Jacob Perrin’s pickoff attempt sailed wide of first base. Granowitz scored when the next batter, Cory Ott, grounded out to Gwyn at third. After Matt Alexander grounded to Fitch at first for the second out of the inning, Zack Thornton and Blair Walters both singled before Perrin struck out Mitch Halpert to end the inning.

Right fielder Sloan Campi reached on a two-out infield hit and stole second in the second inning, but was left stranded.

In the bottom of the second, Oak Park took a 2-1 lead on another unearned run as Garrett Brinkley reached second with one out on second baseman Colbie Bell’s throwing error. Brinkley advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored as Bell misplayed Eric Columbia’s ground ball. Columbia moved to second when Granowitz grounded out. Perrin then hit Ott with a pitch to set up one of the more bizarre plays of the day.

Alexander hit a towering popup that dropped untouched near the mound. Perrin picked up the ball and threw quickly to Bell at second to get Ott, who had rounded the bag too far, for the third out of the inning.

The Sharks seemed poised to take control of the game in the top of the third, but they quickly lost control in the bottom half of the inning.

After Greg Kernodle grounded out to start the third for Malibu, Jared Weinstock lined a double to deep center field. Weinstock moved to third and Fitch reached second on a throwing error by Oak Park third baseman Garrett Brinkley. Williams followed with his second double of the day, a drive that plated both Weinstock and Fitch and chased Eagle starter Mitch Halpert from the game.

With Jake Whitaker on in relief, Williams scored as Gwyn reached on an error by Ott at second base. Perrin followed with a flare to right for a base hit and Bell walked to load the bases. Campi’s grounder to third resulted in a force at the plate on Gwyn for the second out of the inning. Jace Dispenza then walked to drive in Perrin before Kernodle grounded to short for the third out.

All nine Oak Park hitters scored in the bottom of the third. Thornton, leading off, was hit by a pitch. Walters followed with a double to center. Whitaker’s single knocked in Thornton. Doug Deakin was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single by Brinkley scored Walters before Columbia’s single to the wall in right knocked in Whitaker and Deakin. Granowitz reached on a throwing error. Brinkley and Columbia then scored when Kernodle allowed a ground ball off the bat of Ott to go through his legs at short. Granowitz then scored as Ott got into a rundown between first and second. Alexander’s single scored Ott.

After Perrin walked Thornton, with eight runs in and nobody out, Coach Gallo made the call to the bullpen for Wilder Philipson. Walters greeted Philipson with a base hit, his second of the inning. A sacrifice fly off the bat of Whitaker plated the ninth run of the inning with the first out. Philipson then struck out Deakin and Brinkley to drive a stake through the heart of the inning that would not die.

Weinstock singled to lead off the fourth for the Sharks. When Fitch walked, it appeared that Malibu might be ready to chip away at Oak Park’s 11-5 lead. But Williams struck out and Nate Schoenbrun, running for Weinstock, was doubled off second when Gwyn flied to center.

Philipson walked Columbia to lead off the fourth, but promptly turned a comebacker off the bat of Granowitz into a 1-6-3 double play. Ott popped to short to end the inning.

Malibu went quietly in the fifth, as did the Eagles, thanks to another double play.

In the top of the sixth, Dispenza led off with a walk. Kernodle replaced Dispenza on a fielder’s choice and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After Schoenbrun struck out, Fitch walked. Williams then drove a fastball from reliever Dave Schmidt to the deepest part of the park for a two-run double that made the score 11-7 and forced the Eagles to bring on ace Zack Thornton to pitch.

The Eagles capitalized on Philipson’s control problems to score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Down 14-7, the Sharks went in order in the top of the seventh as Thornton sealed the win for Oak Park.

The Sharks face three more non-league opponents before resuming Frontier League play against Oaks Christian on Tuesday, April 4. Next up is a home game against Fillmore on Tuesday, March 28.

Oak Park Preview

The Sharks take on Oak Park in a non-league game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Malibu and Oak Park expect to match up in league play in 2007 when the Tri-Valley League and the Frontier League combine.

Oak Park is currently riding a five-game winning streak. The Eagles are led by senior pitcher Zack Thornton and junior first baseman Blair Walters.

For directions to Oak Park High School, click here. (The baseball field is located in the northeast corner of the campus behind the student parking lot.)

Sharks 13, Nordhoff 3

The Sharks sent twelve batters to the plate and scored six runs in the top of the third inning and rode the pitching of Jared Weinstock and Mike Gwyn to a 13-3 win over Frontier League rival Nordhoff on Friday.

With Malibu already up 2-0, Greg Kernodle led off the third inning with a bunt single down the third base line. Kernodle stole second and then advanced to third as Weinstock grounded out to Nordhoff first baseman, Todd Landsman. After Brooks Fitch was intentionally walked, Stephen Williams hit a ground-rule double down the left field line that score Kernodle and moved Fitch to third. Fitch and Williams scored when Gwyn’s ground ball bounced over the shoulder of second baseman Marty Myers. On a well-executed hit-and-run play, Jacob Perrin singled through the hole at second to chase Gwyn to third. Perrin advanced to second on the throw from the outfield. Colbie Bell’s base hit plated Gwyn before Ross Ellis was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Jace Dispenza greeted the first pitch from Nordhoff’s Rob Magill, on in relief of starter Tyler Erickson, with a two-run double into the left-center field gap. Kernodle walked to load the bases, but Weinstock fouled out and Fitch flied to left to end the inning.

Weinstock, making his second start of the season on the mound, gave up two hits in the bottom of the first, but kept the Rangers’ bats silent the rest of the way. His only problems came as a consequence of temporary lapses in control. Weinstock walked the bases loaded on the first fourteen pitches of the third inning. He immediately settled down, however, and retired the next three batters, allowing only one run on a fielder’s choice. In all, Weinstock allowed two runs (one earned) in four innings with three strikeouts and six walks.

Mike Gwyn, who entered in relief after Weinstock walked the leadoff hitter in the fifth inning, pitched three complete innings allowing only one hit and one unearned run.

Malibu started the scoring in the top of the first. Erickson hit leadoff hitter Greg Kernodle with a 1-2 pitch. Weinstock grounded into a fielder’s choice that erased Kernodle at second. Fitch followed with a double that moved Weinstock to third. A sacrifice fly to center by Williams scored Weinstock. Fitch then scored the second run of the game on Mike Gwyn’s infield hit.

With the score 8-1, the Sharks added a single run in the fourth inning. Gwyn reached on a one-out single and advanced to second when Perrin grounded into a bizarre 5-6-3 out. Bell then lined a single up the middle to score Gwyn.

Malibu put the game away with four more runs in the sixth inning. The first three batters–Williams, Gwyn, and Perrin–reached on walks. Williams scored on a wild pitch and Bell knocked in Gwyn on a groundout to short. After Nate Schoenbrun walked, Dispenza singled to knock in Perrin. Kernodle followed with a base hit that loaded the bases. Jake Jesson then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Schoenbrun with the thirteenth and final run of the game for Malibu.

In addition to the strong pitching and hitting performances, Malibu got exceptional defensive play from Jacob Perrin at short. Nate Schoenbrun and Jake Jesson had solid defensive games in the outfield and Stephen Williams had a good game behind the plate.

The win over Nordhoff moved the Sharks into second place in the Frontier League a game-and-a-half behind Oaks Christian. It also took Malibu over .500 for the first time this season with a 5-4 overall record.

The Sharks play a non-league contest on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Park.

Sharks 15, Santa Clara 2

Malibu turned fourteen hits and six Santa Clara errors into fifteen runs on Tuesday afternoon in a 15-2 win. The victory improved Malibu's record to 4-4 (1-1 in the Frontier League).

The scoring started early when Greg Kernodle led off the bottom of the first with a single. With Jared Weinstock at the plate, Kernodle stole second. Weinstock reached on an infield hit that moved Kernodle to third. After Brooks Fitch struck out, a balk scored Kernodle and moved Weinstock to second. Stephen Williams flied to center and Mike Gwyn fouled out to end the inning.

The Sharks sent eleven hitters to the plate and scored six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Jacob Perrin led off with a single and advanced to second when Colbie Bell was hit with a pitch. Wesley Semkin pushed the runners to second and third with a well-executed bunt. Jake Jesson singled to drive in both runners and advanced to second when the Saints' left fielder bobbled the ball. Kernodle followed with a walk before Weinstock singled to drive in Jesson. A base hit by Fitch knocked in Kernodle with the second run of the inning. After Williams was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Gwyn reached on an error by the Santa Clara third baseman. Weinstock and Fitch scored on the play to run the score to 7-0.

Malibu was retired in order in the third inning, but erupted for five more runs in the fourth. After Weinstock grounded out and Fitch lined out to left, Williams singled past the third baseman. Gwyn followed with a double that chased Williams to third. Perrin singled, scoring both Williams and Gwyn. After Bell singled with Perrin advancing to second, two wild pitches with Semkin at the plate scored Perrin and moved Bell to third. After Semkin walked, Jesson got his third RBI of the game on a base hit through the infield. Kernodle flied to left for what should have been the final out of the inning, but the ball was misplayed allowing Semkin to score to make the score 12-2.

The Sharks tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Fitch, leading off the inning, was hit by a pitch. Sloan Campi, hitting for Williams, grounded to short to force Fitch at second. Gwyn's second hit of the game moved Campi to second. Perrin's sharp ground ball to short went through the fielder's legs allowing Campi to score. After Bell was hit by a pitch for the second time on the day, Ross Ellis, batting for Semkin, singled to knock in Gwyn. Perrin then scored on another error by the Santa Clara shortstop.

Colbie Bell allowed two earned runs on five hits in six innings of work en route to his second win of the season. Wilder Philipson pitched a perfect seventh to close out the game.

Jacob Perrin collected three hits and scored three runs on the day. Jake Jesson was 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Mike Gwyn was 2-for-5 and had the only extra-base hit of the game for the Sharks.

Next up for Malibu is a game against Frontier League rival Nordhoff in Ojai on Friday at 3:30.

Bright Sunshine

That's the forecast for tomorrow afternoon's game against Santa Clara. Between now and then, however, the forecast is for showers continuing through the night.

Stay tuned.

Editorial Notes

It's long overdue, but I've finally added a link labeled "2006 Statistics (Max Preps)" in the column to the right. Following this link will take you to the 2006 Malibu High Baseball page on Max Preps. The 2006 schedule, roster, and statistics are available on the Max Preps site.

Updates on the Max Preps page come from coaches. If you read here that Blutarsky went 3-for-4 in the last game and on the Max Preps page it says he went 4-for-4, it simply means that whoever kept score in the dugout was more generous than I was on one of those "do-you-score-that-a-hit-or-an-error" calls. Or it could mean that I made a mistake. At least it could mean that in theory. In practice, I don't actually make mistakes. (I'm kidding, Anne.)

The Malibu Baseball site is maintained by Coach Gallo, so he's the one who can correct the spelling of your name there, Coach Lehmkuhl. (Never mind. It's been corrected.) Although I don't work on the Malibu Baseball site, I'm not above stealing stuff from there to put on this blog from time to time.

Coach Buss, who likes to see himself and his dog here on the blog, recently asked about the absence of photos in recent weeks. They're coming. When I have time, I'll be editing some of the game summaries that have already been posted in order to insert some game photos. (If you have photos you'd like to see posted here, please let me know.)

I'm usually able to attend only the varsity games, but I'm happy to post information about JV games when I can get it and when I have time to post it. Coach Jacobs has promised to feed me some game summaries, so look for more stories about the JV team soon.

Just to be clear, this is a very unofficial web site unaffiliated with Malibu High School and the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District that I maintain in my spare time (although I see that it's now 4:30 in the afternoon, which means that it's technically not my spare time) because I've always enjoyed watching my sons play baseball and I know that some day that will come to an end and I'd like to have a record of all the good times but I'm not very good at scrapbooking. So while I think I've been pretty fair to all concerned since this thing started--and I'm definitely not into critical comments--I've probably been (and will continue to be) partial to players named "Williams" (and dogs wearing baseball caps), so I thank you in advance for your indulgence.

Leave me a comment if you have, uh, a comment--or a suggestion.

Thanks for your patronage.

Northview 13, Sharks 2 (Game 2)

In the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, the Northview Vikings downed Malibu, 13-2. The Vikings pounded out eleven hits and were aided by seven Malibu errors and four walks.

The Vikings scored two unearned runs in each of the first two innings off starter Jared Weinstock. In the top of the third, a leadoff walk to centerfielder Will Davis and three consecutive hits led to four earned runs and an 8-0 Northview lead.

Malibu got on the board in the bottom of the third. Brooks Fitch led off with an infield hit. With Tony Gwyn running for Fitch, Stephen Williams hit a line drive off the base umpire's foot for a single. After Wilder Philipson struck out, Mike Gwyn grounded to short. Williams was forced at second, but the throw on to first got away allowing Tony Gwyn to score.

With Philipson on in relief of Weinstock, the Vikings added one run in the fourth and two in the fifth to go up 11-1. With one out in the bottom half of the fifth, Williams beat out an infield hit and advanced to second as the third baseman's throw sailed wide of first. A wild pitch moved Williams to third before Weinstock's grounder to third knocked him in.

The Northview scoring barrage ended in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer off Nate Schoenbrun.

For the Sharks, senior Jake Jesson singled and stole a base in his first start. Freshman Dusty Kramer caught the entire game in his first varsity start. Sophomore Stephen Williams, in his first game as designated hitter, went 3-for-3.

The Sharks, now 3-4 on the season, face Santa Clara at home on Tuesday in a Frontier League contest.

Sharks 4, Northview 2 (Game 1)

In the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, the Sharks scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Northview Vikings, 4-2. Jacob Perrin drove in the go-ahead run with a bunt single and pitched three shutout innings in relief of Wesley Semkin to earn his first varsity win.

Northview’s only runs came in the top of the first. With runners on first and second via a walk and a single, Will Davis tripled to the fence in right center to knock in Javier Lizarraga and Julian Galindo. Semkin retired Tony Mancuso to strand Davis on third and then proceeded to shut out the Vikings the rest of the way before turning the game over to Perrin at the start of the fifth inning.

The Sharks put together a two-out rally in the first as Brooks Fitch singled to right and Stephen Williams walked, but Jared Weinstock, making his first start of the season, grounded to second to end the inning.

After going down in order in the second inning, the Sharks got on the board for the first time in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Colbie Bell reached on an infield hit. Fitch followed with a run-scoring double to left center. The inning ended on the same play, however, when the relay from the outfield was redirected to second base where Fitch was tagged out after rounding the bag too far.

Perrin led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double to right, but he was stranded there when Northview pitcher Brad McGuire struck out the next three Sharks batters.

With Malibu down 2-1, Bell led off the bottom of the sixth with his second hit of the game. He advanced to third when Fitch picked up his third hit of the game, a single to center. Williams followed with a single through the middle of the diamond that scored Bell and moved Tony Gwyn, running for Fitch, to second. Weinstock beat out a bunt to load the bases. With an opportunity to drive in his younger brother for the first time, Mike Gwyn grounded into 4-2-3 double play that left the score tied with runners on second and third and two outs. Perrin then pushed Williams across with the go-ahead run on a perfectly executed bunt past the pitcher’s mound. Ross Ellis followed with a single to left that scored Weinstock with an important insurance run.

Perrin, who gave up only one infield hit over three innings of relief, shut down the Vikings in the top of the seventh to nail down the Sharks’ third win of the season.

Oaks Christian 10, Sharks 0

Malibu was shut out for the first time since a 1-0 loss to Harvard Westlake on April 23 of last year as the Oaks Christian Lions rolled to a 10-0 win in the Sharks' Frontier League opener. The Lions scored four runs on only one hit in the top of the first inning and coasted to their second victory of the season.

In the JV game played at Oaks Christian, Oaks defeated Malibu, 11-5.

Next up for the varsity is a doubleheader against Northview at home on Saturday. The first game begins at 11:00 a.m.

Three Hot Bats

Over the last three games, Brooks Fitch is 5-for-7 with 4 RBIs and 4 walks; Stephen Williams is 7-for-10 with 7 RBIs; and Bennett Sherman is 3-for-4 with 2 doubles.

Another Rainout

Today's games--varsity and JV--against St. Monica's have been rained out. There will be no practice today.

Frontier League play begins on Tuesday against Oaks Christian. The varsity will be at home and the JV will be away. Both games start at 3:30 p.m.

Sharks 16, St. Bernard 11

The Sharks survived a slugfest against the St. Bernard Vikings yesterday, 16-11. With four runs in the first inning, six in the second, one in the third, and five more in the fourth, Malibu was able to hold off a late run by St. Bernard in a game called after five-and-a-half innings due to darkness.

Mike Gwyn hit the Sharks' first homerun of the season, a three-run shot to left center in the top of the fourth. Stephen Williams was 4-for-4 with four RBIs and Brooks Fitch continued his offensive onslaught with a single and a double. Bennett Sherman doubled twice and Greg Kernodle had three hits and two stolen bases.

Wesley Semkin pitched four innings for the Sharks to earn his first win of the season.

Next up for Malibu is a home game against St. Monica's tomorrow at 11:00 a.m.

The Rest of the Tournament

The schedule has been set for the remainder of the Southern California Invitational/Royal Tournament. The varsity will play at St. Bernard's today at 3:00 p.m. and at home against St. Monica's Saturday at 11:00 a.m. St. Bernard's is located in Playa del Ray at 9100 Falmouth Avenue. (For a map, go here.)

Meanwhile, the JV hopes to have a dry field at last when St. Bernard's visits Malibu today at 3:00 p.m.

Oxnard 15, Sharks 2

Back on their home field after winning a rain-shortened game at LA Baptist yesterday, the Sharks encountered an offensive juggernaut. Oxnard pounded out eighteen hits while rolling to a 15-2 victory that dropped Malibu’s record on the season to 1-2.

Getting his first varsity start on the mound, sophomore Jacob Perrin held the potent Yellowjackets’ bats in check for two innings. In the third inning, however, centerfielder Devin Shepard’s knocked in two runs with a triple. Shepard, who finished the day with two triples and a double in four at bats, also scored in the inning to give Oxnard a 3-0 lead.

Meanwhile, the Sharks were squandering some scoring opportunities. After Greg Kernodle and Colbie Bell struck out to start the bottom of the first inning, Brooks Fitch walked. Williams followed with a single to right center that moved Fitch to third. Mike Gwyn walked to load the bases, but Perrin struck out looking to end the inning.

In the third inning, Fitch doubled down the left field line with one out, but was left on base as Williams struck out and Gwyn flied to left.

After Oxnard had gone up 8-0 with three runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, Malibu finally got on the board with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Kernodle walked to lead off the inning. After Bell popped out to third, Fitch singled to left center and took second on Shepard’s errant throw to third. Williams then beat out a ground ball into the hole at short. Kernodle scored and Fitch followed with the Sharks’ second run as the throw across the diamond got away from the first baseman.

Oxnard added two more runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to add to Malibu’s misery.

On the day, Perrin gave up six runs (five earned) in four and two-thirds innings. Nate Schoenbrun, who collected his first varsity base hit in the fourth inning, pitch an inning in relief of Perrin. Wilder Philipson pitched an inning and a third in his first varsity appearance on the mound. Mike Gwyn pitched the seventh for Malibu.

Offensively, the Sharks struggled. Every starter except Fitch struck out at least once. There were thirteen strikeouts in all. Fitch was 2-for-3. Williams also had two hits. Senior Bennett Sherman, who started in left field for the Sharks, singled in his first varsity at bat. Nate Schoenbrun had the only other hit for Malibu.

The Sharks play next on Thursday against an opponent to be determined based on pool play in the ongoing Southern California Invitational/Royal Tournament.

Sharks 4, LA Baptist 2

The Sharks overcame drizzle, rain, and the L.A. Baptist Knights to pick up their first win of the season, 4-2. Senior Colbie Bell allowed just one hit while striking out eight over five soggy innings.

Going on the road for the first time this season, Malibu encountered a wet field and umpires determined to get in the matchup that had already been rained out once. The Sharks got on the scoreboard quickly as Greg Kernodle led off the top of the first with a walk and advanced to second on Bell's bunt single. Kernodle and Bell moved up on a wild pitch and, after Mike Gwyn popped out to second, Brooks Fitch singled through the left side to score Kernodle. Stephen Williams followed with a groundout to short that knocked in Bell with the Sharks' second run.

The Knights answered with a single run in the bottom of the first. The score then remained deadlocked at 2-1 until the fifth and final inning. With two outs, Kernodle and Bell singled and Gwyn walked to load the bases. Walks to Fitch and Williams drove in a run each to give Malibu a 4-1 lead.

With a half inning to go to make the game official and a steady rain falling, Bell walked three, hit a batter, struck out two, and gave up a sacrifice fly to escape with the win in a game where pitchers and fielders struggled with slippery baseballs and batters and runners struggled with treacherous footing.

Bell was his own best friend, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Kernodle also scored two runs while Williams drove in two.

Defensively, Jace Dispenza’s three catches in centerfield--each one looking up into the rain--rated as the top performance.

Back in Malibu, the JV game against L.A. Baptist was rained out.

Next up for the Sharks, weather permitting, is a home game tomorrow (Tuesday) against Oxnard beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Scouting Report: L.A. Baptist Knights

The Sharks take on the L.A. Baptist Knights tomorrow in a game rescheduled from Friday. Malibu is coming off a 3-1 loss to Santa Monica in the first game of the SoCal Invitational. L.A. Baptist has not yet played this season.

The Knights finished the 2005 season with an 18-4 record. Ranked in the CIF-SS Division V top ten for most of the year (and climbing as high as number two), L.A. Baptist was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by Oaks Christian.

Coach Carl Gschwender's Knights are led this season by senior catcher Matt Berru (.269 BA in 2005) and junior pitcher Tom Gilbertson (3-0 record in 2005). Ryan Deyoung and Jason Pratts are the only other players returning from last year's team.

Malibu and L.A. Baptist met in the opening game of the 2004 Harvard Westlake Christmas tournament. Malibu came away with a 5-4 win. Wesley Semkin pitched two shutout innings to close the game and earn a save. (That game, incidentally, was the first game recorded on this blog. You can read the post here.)

Game time is 3:00 p.m. For directions to L.A. Baptist, which is located at 9825 Woodley Avenue in North Hills, go here.

Post-Game Notes (March 4)

The Sharks got the leadoff hitter on in every inning except the sixth against Santa Monica. . . . In spite of four leadoff hits and two leadoff walks, the Sharks advanced only two runners past second. . . . Freshman Sean Conrad got the start in right field. In his first high school game, he collected his first sacrifice bunt (third inning), his first RBI (fifth inning), and his first base hit (seventh inning). . . . Jacob Perrin, making his first varsity start, handled seventh chances without an error at shortstop. He made an outstanding play on a slow roller in the second inning and turned a double play in the fourth. . . . Wesley Semkin struck out four and walked two in five innings. . . . Mike Gwyn, pitching in relief, gave up a leadoff double in the sixth before retiring the last six batters he faced.

Santa Monica 3, Sharks 1

With the rain finally giving way to clear skies, the Malibu High Sharks began their 2006 varsity baseball season with a tough loss to Santa Monica by a score of 3-1.

Senior righthander Wesley Semkin held Santa Monica to two singles through the first four innings of a pitchers' duel with SaMo's Joe McGrew, but a combination of three hits and two Malibu errors in the top of the fifth gave the Vikings all of the runs they needed.

The Sharks answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth and threatened in the sixth and seventh innings, but failed to push any additional runs across.

Semkin was dominating in the early going. SaMo second baseman Kevin Gonzalez grounded to Mike Gwyn at third to start the game. Semkin then struck out two of the Vikings' leading hitters last year, Dylan Early and Mike Schwartz, to finish the first with a flourish.

Milan de Pillars had a two-out single in the second inning but was stranded when Alex West grounded to third.

A single by Garet Ramos and a walk to Gonzalez put Semkin in a one-out jam in the top of the third. He worked out of it with ease, though, striking out Early for the second time and getting Schwartz on a fly to Jace Dispenza in center.

After a one-two-three fourth inning, SaMo started the fifth with a leadoff single to center by West. Ramos bunted West to second. Shortstop David Castellanos followed with a single to center. A strong throw by Dispenza held West at third. With Castellanos stealing second, the throw by catcher Stephen Williams bounced in front of second. Second baseman Greg Kernodle blocked the ball and West broke for the plate. Kernodle's throw was wild, allowing West to score and Castellanos to move to third. Gonzalez followed with an RBI double down the left field line. He advanced to third when Early grounded to Jacob Perrin at short and scored when Perrin's throw on Mike Schwartz's ground ball glanced off Colbie Bell's glove at first base on what would have been the final out of the inning. In all, Santa Monica scored three runs in the inning, two of them unearned.

Offensively, the Sharks had runners on base in every inning, but two SaMo double plays kept Malibu from scoring until the bottom of the fifth.

Brooks Fitch started the second inning with a drive in the left-center gap but was thrown out at second on a strong throw by leftfielder Milan de Pillars. Perrin led off the third inning with a single to right and was bunted over to second by Sean Conrad. He advanced to third when Dispenza was thrown out trying to bunt for a base hit, but Kernodle followed with a ground out that ended the inning.

A missed opportunity was the story of the fourth inning, too. Bell led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Gwyn then walked to set the table for Fitch. On a 3-2 pitch, Fitch hit a line drive right at thirdbaseman Garet Ramos. Ramos doubled Bell off second on the play to kill the Malibu rally.

In the fifth, Semkin led off with a single through the right side. Sloan Campi, running for Semkin, moved to second on a wild pitch. Perrin then advanced Campi to third on a groundout to second. Campi scored the Sharks' only run of the game when Sean Conrad, playing his first varsity game, grounded out to second.

The Sharks mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh after Gwyn had posted two shutout innings in relief of Semkin. Leading off the inning, Semkin drew a walk from Justin Negrete. Semkin was thrown out stealing second when Perrin struck out looking on a 3-2 pitch. With two outs and nobody on, Conrad singled past the first baseman and advanced to second when the right fielder bobbled the ball. Ross Ellis, batting for Dispenza, drew a walk, but the game ended on Kernodle's grounder to third.

The Sharks travel to L.A. Baptist on Monday in a makeup of a game rained out yesterday.

Scouting Report: Santa Monica Vikings

Santa Monica visits Malibu today at 11:00 a.m. in what will be the first game of the 2006 season for both teams. Coach Kevin Brockway's team, which finished 20-10 last season and went to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs, includes ten seniors.

Junior catcher Mike Schwartz looks to fill the offensive vacancy left by Cody Decker's graduation last year. As a sophomore, Schwartz hit .333 with 2 homeruns and 20 RBIs. Junior centerfielder Dylan Early (.443 average) is also expected to put up some big numbers this season.

Senior RHP Chris Fiala looks to fill the top spot in the Vikings' pitching rotation this season. Fiala was 5-2 in nine starts in 2005.

Malibu did not face Santa Monica during the 2005 season. In American Legion play last summer, Malibu and the Santa Monica A team split their two meetings.

A Look Back--3/4/05

One year ago today, Malibu opened up the 2005 season at home against Vasquez. China McCarney, who finished the 2005 season with 104 strikeouts in 56.2 innings, struck out 14 in a complete-game 7-1 victory over the Sharks.

Another Rainout

Today's seasoner opener against LA Baptist has been postponed. Both varsity and JV games are scheduled to be played on Monday, March 6. (The varsity game on Monday will be at LA Baptist and the JV game will be at home.)

As a result of today's rainout, the varsity will open up at home tomorrow against Santa Monica (weather permitting, of course). Game time is 11:00 a.m. (There is no JV game tomorrow.)

Both squads will have a short practice (until about 2:30 p.m.) today.

For further updates, check back here or on www.malibubaseball.com.