Sharks 3, Fillmore 2 (Photos)

Justin Hale scores the go-ahead run in the bottom of the first.

Sean Conrad singles in the third inning.

Matt Cathcart pitches with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Tony Gwyn squeezes a popup for the final out of the game.

Sharks 3, Fillmore 2

Malibu surrendered two unearned runs in the top of the first but scored three times in the bottom of the inning to give Matt Cathcart a lead that he never relinquished as the Sharks downed Fillmore, 3-2.

After the first inning, Cathcart and Fillmore pitcher Nick Hernandez engaged in a classic pitchers’ duel. Cathcart, who pitched a complete game for the fourth time in as many starts, gave up no runs on just two hits over the last six innings while Hernandez scattered four singles in shutting down the Sharks from the second inning on.

Leading off the game for the Flashes, Raul Ramirez hit a flare down the right field line that turned into a double when right fielder Matt Bordier failed in an attempt to make a sliding catch. After Sal Ibarra struck out, Nick Hernandez grounded to second. Tony Gwyn’s fielding error allowed Ramirez to score all the way from second as Hernandez reached first safely. When Nathan Ibarra struck out for the second out of the inning and Michael Watson grounded to short, it appeared Cathcart would be able to limit the damage to one run, but Jacob Perrin misplayed Watson’s grounder and the inning was extended. With runners on first and second, Jason Hurtado singled to center to drive in Hernandez before Nick Paz grounded back to Cathcart for the final out of the inning.

Trailing 2-0 and facing a pitcher who had allowed only one of his last four opponents to score as many as three runs, the Sharks immediately mounted a comeback. Leading off the bottom of the first, Jacob Perrin reached on an infield hit. Tony Gwyn struck out and, with Stephen Williams at the plate, Perrin advanced to second on a passed ball. Williams walked and, on the first pitch to Sean Conrad, advanced another ninety feet along with Perrin on the second passed ball of the inning. After Conrad flied to shallow left, Justin Hale tied the game with a two-out single to right field.

Jesse Conrad advanced Hale to second with a base hit to set the stage for what would prove to be the final run of the game. With a 1-2 count, Matt Bordier singled through the left side of the infield to drive in Hale with the go-ahead run. Conrad was hung up between second and third for the final out of the inning, but, as it turned out, the Sharks had given Cathcart all the run support he would need.

Having escaped the first inning with a 3-2 lead, Cathcart did not allow another hit until the fifth inning. David Watson led off the fifth with an infield single on a weak popup that landed behind the mound, but was thrown out stealing by Williams on the first pitch to Raul Ramirez as Ramirez missed on a bunt attempt.

The Flashes threatened to tie the game in the top of the seventh. After Hurtado struck out to lead off the inning, pinch hitter David Esquivel singled to left. One out later, David Watson reached on an error. With the potential tying run at second, Cathcart induced Ramirez to pop out to second baseman Tony Gwyn for the final out of the game.

Hernandez meanwhile kept the Sharks’ bats in check. Jesse Conrad picked up his second hit in the bottom of the fourth but was unable to advance beyond second. Perrin singled with one out in the fifth but never got off first. In the bottom of the sixth, Sean Conrad led off with a single and stole second base. Nate Schoenbrun had a two-out infield hit that moved Conrad to third, but the inning ended when Cathcart flied out to right.

Cathcart struck out six in the game to run his league-leading total for the season to 59. By running his won-loss record to 7-1, he also moved into a tie for the lead in wins.

The win runs Malibu’s record to 17-4 with three regular-season games left to play. The Sharks face the Flashes at Fillmore on Friday before closing out the season against St. Bonaventure on Tuesday and Thursday of next week.

Scouting Report: Fillmore Flashes

Malibu (16-4) takes on Fillmore (10-12) in a pair of crucial Tri-Valley League games this week. The Flashes travel to Malibu High for a 3:30 game this afternoon with the rematch set for 3:30 Friday afternoon at Fillmore High.

The Sharks, 6-2 in league games, are tied with Nordhoff for second in the Tri-Valley League with four games remaining, including two next week against first-place St. Bonaventure (20-4, 8-0).

Although the Flashes are 1-7 in league games this season, Fillmore's Wednesday afternoon games against Tri-Valley League opponents have all been close thanks to strong pitching from senior Nick Hernandez. On consecutive Wednesdays in April, the Flashes lost to Nordhoff (3-1) and St. Bonaventure (2-1), then defeated Oaks Christian (3-1). Last Wednesday Fillmore shut out Channel Islands, 7-0, in a non-league game.

The Sharks enter today's game with an 11-1 record at home. The only home loss came against Nordhoff on April 18. Fillmore is 2-5 on the road.

Since Malibu's offensive slump against Nordhoff and Faith Baptist, Stephen Williams is hitting .625 will 4 RBIs, Justin Hale is hitting .571 with 6 RBIs, and Sean Conrad is hitting .417 with 3 RBIs.

Matt Cathcart, expected to make his eighth start of the season today, is 6-1 with a 2.32 ERA. He has pitched a complete game in each of his last three outings.

Baseball Rankings

Although not yet in the top ten, the Sharks are listed in the latest CIF-Southern Section Coaches' Baseball Rankings for Division IV. The poll, released yesterday, lists the followng teams:

1. Patriot
2. Northview
3. St. Bonaventure
4. Sonora
5. Savanna
6. Torrance
7. San Dimas
8. Bonita
9. Cathedral City
10. Charter Oak

Others: El Segunda, Anaheim, Covina, Malibu

The April 28 poll is available here [Word document].

Rubinroit Special

Sam Rubinroit's story about the Sharks' series against Oak Park appears in this week's Malibu Times here. The print edition includes a photo of Jacob Perrin.

Scouting Report: Montclair Prep Mounties

The Sharks take on Montclair Prep today in a non-league game at Malibu High. Game time is 3:30 p.m.

Malibu (9-2) will be looking to extend a seven-game winning streak while the Mounties (10-4-1) will be going for their fourth win in a row.

Montclair Prep, a perennial power in the Olympic League, features a roster with twelve seniors including infielder Enrique Zenon, pitcher Kelvin Tolbert, and outfielder Andrew Cohen. Zenon is hitting .405 so far this season. Tolbert has a 4-1 record with a 2.19 ERA in five starts in 2008. Cohen is hitting .350 with 9 RBIs.

Malibu and Montclair Prep have had one common opponent this season. On April 1, Montclair Prep defeated LA Baptist, 2-0. Malibu defeated the Knights, 6-5, back on March 5.

Last season, Montclair Prep defeated Malibu, 11-3, in a game played at the Mounties' new field in the Mid-Valley baseball complex. Two years ago, the Mounties defeated Malibu, 3-0. Malibu's last win in the series was in 2005. With Malibu down, 3-2, Daniel Williams hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning to provide the margin of victory in a 5-4 win--the eighth win in a row for the 2005 Sharks.

Sharks 7, Oak Park 1 (Photos)

Jacob Perrin delivers in the first inning en route to his third win of the season.

Coach Gallo greets Stephen Williams as he rounds third following a two-run homer in the first inning.

Stephen Williams connects on his second homerun of the game.

Jesse Conrad pitches in relief in the sixth inning.

Sharks 7, Oak Park 1

Stephen Williams homered in his first two trips to the plate and Jacob Perrin allowed only one run in 5.1 innings as Malibu rolled to a 7-1 victory over Oak Park on Friday.

Oak Park scored first, but was unable to hold the lead or to get to Perrin or reliever Jesse Conrad after the first inning. Eagles' shortstop Ryan Jensen led off the game with a double to the left-center field gap. Noah Markel followed with a bunt single. After centerfielder Mitch Halpert fouled out, pitcher Jake Hagen singled to right to drive in Jensen. Perrin and the Sharks escaped with no further damage as Eric Columbia grounded back to the mound and Cameron Dechene flied to center.

In the home half of the first, Perrin reached on a one-out walk to set the stage for Williams' first home run of the afternoon. After fouling off three pitches from Hagen, Williams parked a 3-2 pitch beyond the left field fence to give the Sharks a 2-1 lead.

Sean Conrad followed the homer with a single to right. After stealing second and moving to third on Jesse Conrad's ground out to second, he was stranded when Justin Hale walked and Matt Cathcart flied to center to end the inning.

Although Oak Park put runners in scoring position against Perrin in three of the next four innings, solid defense and clutch pitching kept the Eagles off the board.

Meanwhile, Malibu added two more runs in the third and three in the fourth. Leading off the third, Williams took Hagen deep for the second time on a 2-0 pitch. Sean Conrad followed with a bunt single and his second of three stolen bases on the day. After moving to third on Jesse Conrad's ground out, Conrad scored on a double to left center by Justin Hale.

In the bottom of the fourth, Gwyn started a one-out rally with a base hit. Perrin grounded out, advancing Gwyn to second, and Williams was intentionally walked. Gwyn scored and Williams moved to second when Jensen mishandled Sean Conrad's ground ball. After Williams took third on a wild pitch, he scored on the front end of a successful double steal. Jesse Conrad's base hit then drove in Sean Conrad with the third run of the inning.

With a pitch count at 88, Perrin left the mound with one out in the top of the sixth. Jesse Conrad retired two of the three batters he faced in the sixth before sealing the victory by retiring the heart of the Oak Park lineup in order in the seventh.

On the day, Williams was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored. His home runs were his fourth and fifth of the season. Sean Conrad was 2-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored. Monty Biglow, Jesse Conrad, Tony Gwynn, and Justin Hale picked up the remaining hits in the Sharks' eight-hit attack.

With the win, Jacob Perrin ran his record on the season to 3-0. Two days after picking up a save at Oak Park, Perrin scattered seven hits over 5.1 innings while walking three, striking out three, and hitting one batter.

The win runs Malibu's record to 9-2 and 2-0 in Tri-Valley League games. The Sharks host Montclair Prep on Monday before resuming league play with games against Santa Paula on Wednesday and Friday.

Sharks 6, Oak Park 5

Matt Cathcart earned his fourth win in four starts and Tony Gwyn and Jesse Conrad drove in two runs apiece as Malibu extended its winning streak to six games with a 6-5 victory over Tri-Valley League rival Oak Park.

Cathcart struck out five and allowed three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work. Jacob Perrin pitched the final inning and a third to pick up his second save of the season.

After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Senior third baseman Eric Columbia doubled off the wall in right field to lead off the inning. With Cameron Dechene at the plate, Cathcart balked, moving Columbia to third. Dechene grounded out to Perrin at short on the next pitch to drive in Columbia with the first run of the game.

Malibu answered with four runs in the top of the third. Designated hitter D. J. Wolford walked to open the frame. Two pitches later, an errant pickoff attempt by Eagles pitcher David Whitaker moved Wolford to third base. After Matt Bordier struck out, Gwyn notched the first of his RBIs on a single up the middle. Gwyn stole second with Sean Conrad at bat and moved to third one pitch later as Conrad reached first on a dropped third strike. Gwyn scored as Conrad was put out at second for the second out of the inning on a ground ball off the bat of Perrin. Stephen Williams followed with a base on balls. With Jesse Conrad up at bat, Perrin and Williams worked a double steal. Two pitches later, Conrad singled to left to drive in both runners. Justin Hale grounded out to end the inning with the Sharks on top, 4-1.

Helping himself by picking off Noah Markel following Markel’s one-out single, Cathcart retired the top of the Eagles’ lineup in order in the bottom of the third inning.

Oak Park narrowed the Sharks’ lead in the bottom of the fourth. First baseman Jake Hagen doubled to left. With Alex Malin running for Hagen, Columbia grounded sharply back to Catchcart. Cathcart threw to Gwyn who appeared to apply the tag to Malin as he scrambled to return to the bag, but a "safe" call left the Eagles with two runners on and nobody out. With Dechene at the plate, Oak Park worked the double steal. Trying to get Columbia at second, Williams’ throw sailed into center field allowing Malin to score and Columbia to advance to third. Cathcart responded by striking out Dechene, but Trent Hoerman followed with a double to right center that scored Columbia, bringing the Eagles to within a run of Malibu. The Sharks escaped further damage, however, as Whitaker grounded out and Jason Shender struck out to end the inning.

Malibu picked up a run in the top of the fifth. After Eagles center fielder Mitch Halpert robbed Sean Conrad of a base hit on a nice catch, Perrin flied to Halpert for the second out of the inning. Williams reached first as Whitaker’s 2-1 curve ball hit him in the back. Jesse Conrad’s second base hit of the day moved Williams to second. Justin Hale followed with a towering double to the fence in left. Williams scored easily but Conrad was thrown out at home for the final out of the inning.

As they would in the sixth inning as well, Oak Park answered in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Ryan Jensen led off with a single to left. Markel sacrificed Jensen to second. With Halpert at the plate, Jensen moved to third on a wild pitch. Halpert tripled high off the wall in right to bring the Eagles to within one run of the Sharks. With the potential tie run ninety feet away and only one out, Cathcart struck out Hagen, walked Columbia, and got Dechene to ground out to Hale at third for the final out of the inning.

In the top of the sixth facing Oak Park reliever Jeff Pfeiffer, Wolford drew a walk (his third of the game) with one out. Nate Schoenbrun sacrificed Wolford to second. Gwyn followed with his second hit and second RBI of the game, a single through the right side of the infield.

Pitching in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run lead, Cathcart struck out Hoerman before Pfeiffer, hitting in Whitaker’s spot, reached second on a throwing error by Hale. Pfeiffer moved to third on a ground out. With the top of the Oak Park lineup coming up, Coach Paul Gallo brought in Perrin to relieve Cathcart. Jensen lined a 1-1 pitch into left field to drive in Pfeiffer and bring the Eagles to within one run before Perrin snagged a comebacker off the bat of Markel for the final out of the inning.

Clinging to a 6-5 lead going into the seventh inning, the Sharks failed to score in the top half of the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Perrin appeared to have total mastery of his pitches. He struck out Halpert on three pitches--swinging strikes on an inside fastball and a changeup in the dirt followed by a fastball (looking) on the outside corner--and had Hagen 0-2 before getting him to ground out to Monty Biglow at second. On the next two pitches, however, Perrin hit Columbia and Dechene to put the tying run in scoring position. The drama ended quickly, though, when Hoerman grounded the first pitch he saw from Perrin to Gwyn at short for the final out of the game.

Malibu’s win, which runs the team’s record on the season to 8-2, came in spite of the fact that Sean Conrad, Jacob Perrin, and Stephen Williams--the first three hitters in the Sharks’ lineup--were a combined 0-for-10 on the day. On the other hand, Perrin, who reached once on a fielder’s choice, and Williams, who reached three times on a walk, a hit by pitch, and an error, scored three of Malibu’s six runs.

Malibu and Oak Park will meet again at Malibu High on Friday afternoon where the Sharks will be looking to extend their winning streak to seven games. The 2005 Sharks reeled off ten consecutive wins after losing their first two games of the season.

Scouting Report: Oak Park Eagles

The Sharks travel to Oak Park high this afternoon for the season's first meeting between the two Tri-Valley Conference rivals. Malibu, 7-2 on the season, is riding a five-game winning streak. Oak Park is 4-8 and coming off an 11-3 loss to El Rancho of Pico Rivera last Wednesday in the St. Paul Easter Tournament.

Oak Park is led offensively by senior centerfielder Mitch Halpert. Halpert, who missed the first five games of the season, is hitting .471 with 3 doubles and a homerun. Senior third baseman Eric Columbia is hitting .382 with 3 doubles and a triple through Oak Park's first twelve games.

Sophomore Matt Cathcart will be making his fourth start on the mound today. Cathcart is 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 25 strikeouts in just over 18 innings of work.

The Sharks are averaging over seven runs per game during the current five-game winning streak. Stephen Williams is hitting .571 (with 3 homeruns, a double and a triple) and Sean Conrad is hitting .600 in that span.