While Metro Conference teams were shut out of this year’s Lions tournament playoffs, several squads did earn a measure of respect with appearances in consolation games. Montgomery, Otay Ranch and San Ysidro all picked up bonus wins while Hilltop also got an opportunity to extend its tourney schedule beyond the round-robin phase.
Both championship playoffs and consolation games were played April 21.
Otay Ranch and Montgomery both finished 0-3 in group play in the Classic Division but each got a chance to prove itself once more on the diamond with extra games. Both teams made the most of their chances.
Otay Ranch (11-8) defeated Coronado, 6-5, in eight innings while Montgomery (10-8) topped Silverado (Nev.), 5-4, also in eight innings.
Alexis Mercado went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI to help key the Mustangs’ victory over the Islanders (9-12).
The Mustangs, who will play Hilltop at 10 a.m. this Saturday at Petco Park in a Mesa League game, resumed Mesa League play with a key two-game series against Eastlake this week. The Titans entered Wednesday’s game 1-1 in league play.
Otay Ranch had previously edged Hilltop in extra innings in its league opener.
Montgomery was out-hit 11-5 game but still found a way to win as Jovani Reynoso scored the winning run on a wild pitch. Joel Castro (double) drove in two runs for the Aztecs while Tony Gudino homered.
Montgomery, which entered the week 4-0 in South Bay League play, used three pitchers in the game. Eduardo Cubillas pitched one inning of shutout ball to pick up the victory in relief.
San Ysidro, which went 2-1 in Premier Division group play, defeated Green Valley (Nev.), 9-8, in another one-run nail-biter. Daniel Bayardo went 2-for-2 with two RBI and delivered the game-winning hit as the Cougars (11-9-1) rallied from deficits in both the seventh and eighth innings to post the win.
San Ysidro jumped out to a 1-0 lead and moved ahead 5-3 after the Nevadans had tied the score. Green Valley went ahead 6-5 in the seventh inning before the Cougars forced extra innings. When the Nevada visitors scored twice more in the eighth inning, it seemed like the game was over.
But San Ysidro loaded the bases, with Bayardo’s clutch hit bringing in two runs.
Diego Piceno and Eduardo Rubalcava (double, triple) also each had two RBI.
The Cougars finished tourney play 3-1.
Hilltop crushed Nevada’s Faith Lutheran, 16-1?, to close out round-robin play in the 5A Division, thus earning a bonus game against Arbor View, another Nevada team. The Lancers, however, couldn’t maintain their momentum as they lost 5-3.
Hilltop finished tourney play 2-2. (stats)
Three other Metro teams finished with winning records in tourney play but did not draw an extra game: Sweetwater (2-1 in the 3A Division), Olympian (2-1 in the 2A Division) and Castle Park (2-1 in the 2A Division).
Extra bases
In a Citrus-West League played on April 21, Lutheran defeated Borrego Springs, 10-1, to improve to 2-5 in league play, 4-8 overall. Conor Koester keyed the Knights with a complete game effort while striking out eight batters and also going 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI.
Jordan Kirby leads Lutheran with a .476 hitting average and 10 RBI.
61st Lions Tournament
Parade of Champions
Classic Division
Championship: Cathedral Catholic 6, La Costa Canyon 5
Semifinals: Cathedral Catholic 7, Elk Grove (Sacramento) 5; LCC 18, Poway 8
Premier Division
Championship: Marina (Huntington Beach) 6, Paramount 1
Semifinals: Marina 3, Ramona 0; Paramount 10, Pacific Palisades 8
6A Division
Championship: San Pasqual 4, Mission Hills 3
Semifinals: San Pasqual 2, Mira Mesa 1; Mission Hills 1, Vista 0
5A Division
Championship: La Jolla Country Day 7, Monte Vista 5
Semifinals: LJCD 9, Oceanside 5; Monte Vista 1, El Camino 0
4A Division
Championship: Nevada Union 6, Escondido 5 (8 innings)
Semifinals: Nevada Union 11, San Diego 6; Escondido 4, Francis Parker 3
3A Division
Championship: University (Irvine) 4, San Dieguito Academy 0
Semifinals: San Dieguito Academy 5, Canyon Crest Academy 1
2A Division
Championship: Linfield Christian 9, Del Norte 4
Semifinals: Linfield Christian 18, Mountain Empire 1; Del Norte 6, Rock Academy1
1A Division
Escondido Charter 10, Orange Glen 7
Note: Top two teams from group play advanced to the championship game.
Consolation Games
Thursday, April 21
Otay Ranch 6, Coronado 5 (8 innings)
Montgomery 5, Silverado (Nev.) 4 (8 innings)
San Ysidro 9, Green Valley (Nev.) 8
Arbor View (Las Vegas) 5, Hilltop 3
Grossmont 18, Whittier 0
Scripps Ranch 7, Valhalla 0
Torrey Pines 5, Kennedy (Granada Hills) 2
Temecula Valley 5, Granite Hills 0
Edison (Huntington Beach) 3, Point Loma 2
Mesa League Standings
(Through April 23)
Bonita Vista 2-0, 10-9
Otay Ranch 1-0, 11-8
Eastlake 1-1, 16-5
Mater Dei Catholic 1-1, 5-13
Hilltop 0-1, 9-9
Chula Vista 0-2, 6-12
South Bay League Standings
(Through April 23)
Montgomery 4-0, 10-8
San Ysidro 4-0, 11-9-1
Mar Vista 4-2, 7-14
Olympian 3-3, 11-9
Castle Park 1-3, 7-12
Southwest 1-4, 3-17
Sweetwater 1-3, 7-12
