World War II was almost over (Victory in Europe was declared in May) and CIF travel restrictions for high school teams virtually had ended, but calls to the colors and other dynamics continued.

By the 1944-45 school year San Diego High enrollment had dropped to 2,694 students, with 750 graduates, down from a high of 851 and enrollment of 3,316 in the September 1941-June 1942 period, according to Don King’s Caver Conquest, athletic history of the school.

Students were leaving early and joining the military, or just leaving for jobs, many amid wartime financial challenges.

San Diego and Hoover held sway on the diamond.  The Cardinals won 2 of 3 rivalry games and the City Series with the Hilltoppers, who were led by future major leaguer Jack Harshman.

Harshman hit .370 and signed a professional contract with the San Diego Padres.  He would  hit as many as 40 home runs in one minor league season but eventually transitioned to the pitcher’s mound.

The move resulted in Harshman’s posting a record of 69 victories against 65 losses in parts of 10 seasons with five teams, with records of 14-8 in 1954 and 15-11 in 1956 with the Chicago White Sox. He once threw 245 pitches in a 16-inning, 1-0 White Sox victory.

Harshman also pinch hit.  The lanky (6-foot, 2 inches, 175 pounds) slugger hit 21 home runs in his big league career.

3/31/45

Pitcher Bob Peterson and first baseman Jack Harshman were selected to the Pomona 20-30 Rotary Club all-tournament team.

The Hilltoppers won 3 of 4 games but El Monte was the tournament champion.

4/1/45

Jack Harshman hit two triples but San Diego  dropped an 8-4 decision to the Naval Air Station team at Navy Field.

4/3/45

A game in which there were more combined errors, 13, than hits, 10, saw Point Loma and St. Augustine struggle to a 9-9 tie at Golden Hill Playground.

4/6/45

Phil Adams’ pinch-hit single in the seventh inning robbed Hoover’s Dick Barnes of a no-hitter in the Cardinals’ 8-0 victory over Point Loma.

 4/10/45

John Hatz collected three hits and Sweetwater, which scored four runs in the first inning, won a nonleague game at Point Loma, 6-1.

—Brown Military dropped an 8-5 decision to the visiting San Diego High junior varsity.

4/13/45

Hoover opened the Victory League season at Sweetwater with a 5-1 victory.

Starting Cardinals pitcher sophomore Ken Clary singled in the fourth inning, followed by walks to Marty Gaughen and Bill Paul, and George Caswell’s single and a Sweetwater error that led to three runs.

—Point Loma’s Charlie Harris pitched a no-hitter and Point Loma swamped Vocational, 24-0, in a game called after seven innings.  The losers did not help themselves with 13 errors.

—San Diego High hit the road for the first time since 1942 and defeated Redondo Beach Redondo Union, 13-2, on five hits, aided by three Seahawks errors, eight walks, and four hit-batsmen.

San Diego’s trip included next-day victories of 21-5 over Inglewood and 5-4 over Lawndale Leuzinger.

4/16/45

St. Augustine was defeated by the Hoover junior varsity, 4-1, at University Heights playground.

4/17/45

Pete Corona of the San Diego JV threw a no-hitter as the Hilltoppers defeated the Point Loma varsity and Charlie Harris, 1-0.

4/19/45

Ken Clary scattered three hits and Hoover moved to 2-0 in the Victory League with a 15-1 rout of host Point Loma.

4/20/45

Redondo Beach Redondo returned the favor by being the visiting team in a rare doubleheader.  Dick Barnes’ four hitter stopped the Seahawks in Hoover’s 3-2 victory in the afternoon on the Cardinals’ diamond.

Possibly fatigued and out of sorts, Redondo moved over for an evening game in Balboa Stadium, where San Diego High scored nine runs in the first inning and needed only six hits, plus 17 bases on balls and five Seahawks errors, to send the Los Angeles team home a 14-0 loser.

4/24/45

Ken Clary pitched Hoover to a 3-1 victory over San Diego in Balboa Stadium in the first of the three-game City Series.

Clary was gifted with two runs from third-inning wild throws by the Hilltoppers and kept them off the scoreboard until the bottom of the ninth inning after Hoover scored in the top of the inning.

Clary gave up for hits, one more than losing pitcher Harry Ohlson.

4/25/45

A six-run fifth inning propelled Sweetwater to a 10-6 win over the visiting San Diego junior varsity.

4/26/45

Point Loma and Vocational felt the wrath.  San Diego clobbered the Pointers, 25-1, and Sweetwater scored a 20-0 rout of the downtown school.

—St. Augustine was beaten again by a junior varsity, San Diego’s, 8-7.

5/1/45

Dick Barnes struck out 13 and gave up six hits and Hoover beat Sweetwater, 6-5. George Caswell’s single scored Ken McCoy with the winning run in the last of the seventh inning after McCoy singled and stole second base.

—Point Loma scored seven runs in the seventh inning and took St. Augustine, 12-6, in a game that had almost as many errors (14) as base hits (16). Point Loma made fewer (6) and overcame a 5-3 deficit.

5/2/45

Malin Burnham’s two hits led Point Loma to an 8-4 win at Brown Military.

5/3/45

Jack Harshman had two hits and Harry Ohlson struck out 12 and San Diego moved into a tie with idle Hoover for first place in the Victory League when the Hilltoppers beat Sweetwater, 10-0, for a 3-0 record.

—Lawndale Leuzinger was supposed to travel South but would forfeit games to Hoover and San Diego the following week.

5/4/45

The San Diego Junior Varsity was a rude guest, whacking the Point Loma varsity, 12-2, on the strength of a 10-run eighth inning.

—Six errors doomed St. Augustine in an 11-3 loss to Los Angeles Cathedral at University Heights playground.

5/8/45

Bob Turley allowed three hits and Point Loma defeated visiting St. Augustine, 12-2.

5/10/45

Sweetwater’s 6-1 victory at Point Loma clinched third place in the final Victory League standings.  The Red Devils finished with a 2-2 league record to the Pointers’ 1-3.

5/11/45

San Diego, trailing, 6-4 entering the top of the ninth inning, scored two runs to tie and three more in the 10^th inning to defeat Hoover, 9-6, on the Cardinals’ field and even the City Series at 1-1.
Jack Harshman was 4 for 4 and Bob Peterson 4 for 5 as the Hilltoppers reached Cardinals ace Dick Barnes for 16 hits.

5/17/45

The Hoover junior varsity outlasted the St. Augustine varsity, 10-8, at University Heights playground.

5/18/45

Awaiting their City Series-deciding game next week, the Hoover and San Diego squads each played host to  the Imperial Valley All-Stars in separate afternoon-evening games.

Hoover won the sunshine contest, 16-3.  San Diego won, 6-1, under the lights.

Ken Clary and Jimmy Gleason divided pitching assignments for Hoover, holding the visitors to five hits in the seven-inning contest. Redbirds Don Brorson and George Caswell each homered and tripled.

Jack Harshman hit a home run and Harry Ohlson and Carl Hurlbach stopped the desert entry on three hits hours later in Balboa Stadium.

5/23/45

Centerfielder Dick Barnes had three hits and drove in four runs and Hoover defeated San Diego, 7-5, for a 2-1advantage in the three-game City Series, clinching city bragging rights and the Victory League championship for the Cardinals.

San Diego’s Jack Harshman hit a two-run, 400-foot home run over the rightfield wall in the top of the first inning at Lane Field, where an estimated 2,500 persons attended.

The Hilltoppers led, 3-0, after Harshman’s clout but Hoover scored a run in its half of the first and was in front, 4-3, after three innings.

San Diego took a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning, but the Cardinals scored two in the seventh and one in the eighth.

Ken Clary went the distance for Hoover, surrendering 10 hits.  Shortstop Victor Salazar and second baseman Bob King had two hits each for the Hillers.

Bill Beane of Mt. Carmel was a star player for the Sundevils and  the first player selected in the 1980 major league draft by the New York Mets.

“Billy” Beane played five seasons in the majors and joined the Oakland Athletics as an advance scout in 1990, beginning a front office career in which today Beane is part owner of the team and was the subject of the movie “Money Ball” in 2011 starring Brad Pitt.

5/2/80

Mark Davis, the third brother to play for Hoover since 1971, homered as the Cardinals defeated Crawford, 4-3.

Mark was preceded by John and Mike Davis.  The latter went on to a nine-season major league career.

—Brian Tuller’s double scored Tony Johnson from first in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 4-3 Clairemont victory over Kearny, snapping the Komets’ seven-game Eastern League winning streak.

Tuller, who pitched a no-hitter against Bonita Vista in the Lions tournament, went the distance for the Chieftains, scattering 10 hits.

—Joe Bautista’s first-inning grand slam home run led Mar Vista to a 5-4 in over Chula Vista.

—Borrego Springs Mark Giberti pitched a no-hitter as the Rams defeated Cal Lutheran, 10-2, in the Southern League and Poway’s Tim Lund allowed one hit in a 3-2 win over Oceanside.

5/6/80

Nestor Rosas’ fourth-inning homerun was the difference in unbeaten Mar Vista’s 19^th straight win, 4-3 over Coronado.

—Home runs by Charlie Steele and Garry Harris powered Hoover to a 13-4 win over Lincoln.

—Madison’s Gene Sgambelluri pitched a no-hitter and struck out 14 in a 7-0 win over San Diego.

5/16/80

Mar Vista’s 23-game, San Diego Section winning streak ended with an 8-6 loss to Coronado.

The Mariners, whose run included four games at the end of the 1979 season, backed into the Metropolitan League championship when Southwest defeated second-place Hilltop, 3-2.

Mar Vista, 15-1 in league and 19-1 overall, earlier broke the Section record for most consecutive wins.  Oceanside won 18 in a row in 1970.

San Diego High had a 23-game winning streak as a member of the Southern Section in 1954 and streaks of 21 in 1959 and 19 in 1952 and ’57.

—Tom Katomski, Matt Nokes, Scott McKee, and Tom Weikel hit run-scoring singles and the first six Patrick Henry batters hit safely in the first inning as the Patriots defeated Kearny, 6-3, short circuiting the Komets’ attempt to clinch the Eastern League championship.

5/23/80

Regular-season play concluded in the Eastern, Western, and Metropolitan Leagues, with eight of 16 playoff berths in accounted for.

Kearny, Clairemont, and Patrick Henry (Eastern) advanced in 3-A, as did Mission Bay and University (Western), and Mar Vista and Chula Vista (Metropolitan) in 2-A.

—Joe Blas homered twice and drove in four runs as Kearny routed Morse, 23-4.  Tom Katomski pitched Patrick Henry to its ninth consecutive win, 5-2 over Point Loma.  Western League champion University lost to La Jolla, 3-2, and Clairemont, despite losing, 8-5, to Madison still finished ahead of the Warhawks.

Although losing to Mar Vista, 7-6, Hilltop qualified.  Chula Vista earned the third bid, 11-7 over Bonita Vista.

—Santana, picked to finish seventh in the nine-team Grossmont League, rode the three-hit pitching of Ray Brown as the Sultans beat Grossmont, 1-0, at El Capitan.

The win marked the first time since 1970 the Sultans had won or shared the league title.

STANDINGS

EASTERN LEAGUE

LEAGUE                       OVERALL

Team	Won	Lost	Pct.	GBL	Won	Lost	Pct.
Kearny	12	2	.857	—	17	5	.773
Patrick Henry	10	3	.769	1 ½	13	6	.684
Clairemont	9	5	.643	3	14	8	.636
Madison	8	5	.615	3 ½	11	8	.579
Point Loma	7	7	.500	5	11	9	.550
Morse	5	9	.357	7	6	14	.300
San Diego	3	11	.214	9	4	16	.200
Mira Mesa	1	13	.071	11	3	17	.150

WESTERN LEAGUE

LEAGUE                                                  OVERALL

Team	Won	Lost	Pct.	GBL	Won	Lost	Pct.
University	11	3	.786	—	15	7	.682
Mission Bay	9	5	.643	2	14	7	.667
Hoover	8	5	.615	2 ½	12	7	.632
Lincoln	8	6	.571	3	11	8	.579
Crawford	7	7	.500	4	10	10	.500
La Jolla	6	7	.462	5	10	9	.526
Serra	5	9	.357	6	7	12	.368
St. Augustine	1	13	.071	10	3	18	.143

GROSSMONT LEAGUE

LEAGUE                                                  OVERALL

Mount Miguel	12	4	.750	—	15	5	.750
Santana	12	4	.750	—	14	8	.636
El Capitan	10	6	.625	2	13	8	.619
Valhalla	9	7	.563	3	12	9	.571
Helix	9	7	.563	3	11	10	.524
Grossmont	7	9	.438	5	12	10	.545
Granite Hills	7	9	.438	5	11	10	.524
Monte Vista	4	12	.250	8	6	16	.273
El Cajon Valley	2	14	.125	10	3	16	.158

AVOCADO LEAGUE

LEAGUE                                               OVERALL

Carlsbad	9	3	.750	—	13	8	.619
San Pasqual	8	4	.667	1	14	8	.636
Escondido	6	6	.500	3	8	10	.444
San Marcos	6	6	.500	3	8	12	.400
Ramona	5	7	.417	4	5	13	.278
Oceanside	5	7	.417	4	5	15	.250
El Camino	3	9	.250	6	6	14	.300

PALOMAR LEAGUE

LEAGUE                                                OVERALL

Vista	9	3	.750	—	15	6	.714
Poway	9	3	.750	—	13	6	.684
Orange Glen	7	5	.583	2	12	8	.600
Mt. Carmel	5	7	.417	4	11	9	.550
Torrey Pines	4	8	.333	5	11	9	.550
Fallbrook	4	8	.333	5	9	11	.450
San Dieguito	4	8	.333	5	9	13	.409

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE

LEAGUE                                                  OVERALL

Mar Vista	17	1	.944	—	21	1	.955
Hilltop	12	6	.667	5	16	7	.696
Chula Vista	11	7	.611	6	14	8	.636
Sweetwater	9	9	.500	8	10	10	.500
Montgomery	9	9	.500	8	9	11	.450
Coronado	8	10	.444	9	11	11	.500
Marian	8	10	.444	9	8	10	.444
Bonita Vista	8	10	.444	9	8	12	.400
Southwest	7	11	.389	10	8	12	.400
Castle Park	1	17	.056	16	1	19	.050

5/27/80

SAN DIEGO SECTION PLAYOFFS

QUARTERFINALS

3-A

El Capitan 2, @Kearny (17-6) 0.

An error, balk, walk, and single by John Ramirez loaded the bases, and another walk to Tate Velau forced in a run in the top of the third inning that was the difference.

Vaqueros pitcher Jim Kurzinger gave up five hits, including two by Komets pitcher Billy Eggert, who allowed four hits and struck out 11.

Vista (15-7) 1, @Mount Miguel 5.

Rick Bighames and Tom Toledo homered for the Matadors.

Patrick Henry 2, @Santana (14-9) 0.

Mike Fazekas’ six-hit pitching led the Patriots to their 10^th consecutive win.

Clairemont 5, @Poway (13-7) 1.

Doug Fess tripled twice and Chieftains pitcher Mike Weinbrecht struck out 10.

2-A

San Marcos (14-9) 3, @Mar Vista 10.

Doug Reynolds hit a grand slam home run and Regan Owen added a two-run clout in the Mariners’ nine-run first inning.

San Pasqual (14-9) 3, @Hilltop 9.

The Lancers broke the extra-innings tie with six runs in the eighth.

Chula Vista (14-9) 1, @University 3.

Carlsbad (13-9) 6, @Mission Bay 8.

Mike Burrows went all eight innings for the Buccaneers, was 3 for 5 at the plate, and singled in the winning run.

5/29/80

SEMIFINALS

3-A

Patrick Henry 10, @Clairemont 4 (15-9).

Trailing, 4-2, the Patriots exploded for six runs in the sixth inning.

El Capitan 7, @Mount Miguel 6 (16-6).

2-A

Mission Bay 4, @Mar Vista 2 (22-2).

Mission Bay coach Dennis Pugh surprised by giving the ball to John Henderson instead of ace Art Rodriguez, and Henderson, who had not made a start this season and had appeared only twice in relief, survived a shaky first inning and pitched a complete game.

Pugh thought Henderson’s sidearm delivery and variety of “junk stuff” would work.  “I wanted to give them something they’ve hadn’t seen yet,” said Pugh.

“Besides,” the coach added, “we’re a better team defensively with Art at shortstop.”

Hilltop 2 (16-6), @University 3.

1-A

Army-Navy 4, @Borrego Springs, 11.

Santa Fe Christian 3, @Mountain Empire 9.

The Redskins’ Bob Price gave up two hits and struck out 10.

5/31/80

CHAMPIONSHIPS

3-A

Patrick Henry (16-6) 10, El Capitan (15-9) 4, @University San Diego.

The Patriots, hitless through 5 1/3 innings, exploded for nine runs in the sixth.

“I guess the sixth is a good inning for us,” said Patriots coach Bob Imlay, recalling a similar outburst in the semifinals two days before.

Tony Sharamitaro led off with a triple, Scott McKee doubled, and Rodney Ellis added a two-run single.

Greg Perry relieved starter Jim Kursinger and was on the mound for seven more runs, with the Vaqueros’ third error and a passed ball contributing.

The win, behind Mike Fazekas’ six-hit pitching, was Patrick Henry’s 13^th in a row.

2-A

University (18-7) 4, Mission Bay (16-8) 3, @University San Diego.

Both pitchers, Mike Correia for the Dons and Mike Burrows for Mission Bay went the entire 13 innings.

Correia’s single drove in the deciding run after Burrows had almost worked out of a bases-loaded jam with two force outs at home plate.

Correia had worked a complete-game seven innings in the quarterfinals, added 1 1/3 innings in the semifinals and finished the week with 21 1/3 innings pitched.

“I feel this is the last game I’m going to want to pitch for a long time,” Correia told Linda Murphy of The San Diego Union. “I told coach I probably couldn’t pitch the next inning.”

The win was coach Dick Serrano’s second championship in three years and Correia closed with a 14-1 record.

1-A

Mountain Empire (10-3) 4, Borrego Springs (9-4) 3, @Imperial High.

The Redskins’  second straight title was achieved without a base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Tom Harkness was hit by a pitch.  A base on balls and a fielder’s choice moved Harkness to third.  He scored on a passed ball.

Dan Mady’s two-run single in the fourth tied the score after Borrego took a 3-1 lead in the third on Paul Giberti’s double and Jim Streit’s two-run single.

San Diego High defeated Excelsior Norwalk in the championship game of the Southern Section playoffs in what was almost becoming routine.

The 16-8 victory at the Lane Field home ballpark of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres was the seventh since Mike Morrow became coach in 1927.

Th Hilltoppers (20-4), also known as Hillers and Cavers or Cavemen, had several standouts, including one who would star for the PCL Padres.

Sophomore pitcher Al Olsen signed with the Padres after graduation in 1939 and was an essential member of the team’s starting rotation for most of the next 13 years.

3/31/37

John (Red) Keogh pitched the season’s first no-hitter, a 2-0 St. Augustine triumph over Point Loma at University Heights playground. Keogh struck out 14 and walked three and no runner advanced beyond second base.

—Hoover’s six errors that led to two unearned runs allowed Sweetwater to edge the visiting Cardinals, 4-3.

4/21/37

Charlie Strada of St. Augustine caught a fly ball in right field and threw to first base to double up a Naval Air runner. First baseman Claude White then completed the season’s first triple play with a throw to shortstop Bob Menke, who tagged a second Naval Air runner for the third out.

Joe Rinder was 3 for 3 for the Saints, who won, 12-3.

—Les Cassie scattered 10 hits and the San Diego State Freshmen topped Escondido, 12-5, on the Aztecs’ diamond.

—Cliff Bashore gave up four hits and Grossmont defeated visiting Point Loma, 5-1.

4/23/37

Long Beach Wilson created a three-way tie with Alhambra and San Diego for first place in the Coast League when the Bruins struck 11 base hits off three San Diego pitchers and defeated the traveling Hillers, 8-1.

—Hoover claimed its first Coast League victory with a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth inning to defeat Santa Ana, 8-7.

The visiting Saints took advantage of Cardinals ace Del Ford, who retired with a sore arm in a three-run fourth inning, and led, 7-3, before Hoover scored three runs in the eighth, setting up its clinching rally. Del Ballinger, who relieved Ford, was the winning pitcher.

—Charlie Strada homered and tripled and drove in five runs, and Ed Vitalich survived a couple homers and 10 hits as St. Augustine outscored Sweetwater, 11-7, with a 15-hit attack on the Red Devils’ diamond.

—Don Galindo struck out 15 Oceanside batters, allowed two hits, and Escondido shut out the Pirates, 14-0.  The Cougars had 13 base hits, including home runs by Morgan Finney and Willie Reyes.

4/26/37

Two-year letterman first baseman Dick Mitchell was elected captain of the Hoover team, coach Wofford (Wos) Caldwell announced.

—Del Ballenger surrendered one hit, a bases empty home run by Red Keogh in the fourth inning, and contributed a home run as Hoover beat St. Augustine, 10-1, on the Cardinals ‘diamond.

4/28/37

Track star and baseball pitcher Jerry Soule struck out 13 and was supported by two singles and a home run by first baseman Carl Reed and three singles and a triple by Elvard Walden in La Jolla’s 10-4 win over visiting Oceanside.

4/30/37

Bill Hutchinson’s grand slam home run and Art Davis’ effective pitching resulted in an 11-2 win, Mountain Empire over guest Ramona.

—Don Galindo, with 17-hit support, pitched Escondido to a 12-6 win over nonleague visitor Compton.

—Jack Lange had two doubles and a single and Del Oliver, who relieved Del Ballenger in the ninth inning, was the winning pitcher after Hoover scored two runs in the 10^th at Alhambra for a 6-4 Coast League victory.

5/1/37

Attendance was 1,200 persons at Lane Field, home of the Pacific Coast League San Diego Padres, and the Hilltoppers, behind lefthander Al Olsen, defeated Long Beach Poly, 9-2.

Olsen gave up five hits and Dave Curtis and Jess Meyers each had two hits and Chet Kehn walked four consecutive times.

San Diego’s victory set up a one-game playoff in four days with Long Beach Wilson, with the Coast League title on the line. The teams tied for first, each with a 4-1 record.

5/4/37

Cliff Bashore pitched Grossmont to a 4-1 victory in the season’s final Metropolitan League game, tying the Foothillers with La Jolla and Oceanside, behind champion Escondido.

5/5/37

Al Olsen won his second straight critical game, striking out 13 and pitching a seven-hit, 8-3 win over Long Beach Wilson in City Stadium and giving San Diego the Coast League’s playoff berth.

—Ed (Zip) Vitalich improved his record to 6-1 and, aided by Joe Rinder’s double and triple, set down the Navy Hospital team, 6-2, although the medics reached Vitalich for 11 base hits.

5/7/37

San Diego defeated Placentia Valencia, 26-1, in a first-round, Southern Section playoff in the community near Fullerton in Orange County.  Manny Fernandez and Dave Curtis hit home runs and Chet Kahn pitched.

Game information in The San Diego Union originally incorrectly reported a 7-2 San Diego victory and a Hilltoppers’ advance into the playoff finals.

5/8/37

Escondido sent Santa Monica home with an 8-0 playoff victory over the visiting Vikings.  Don Galindo won his 12^th game without defeat.  Don and his brother Ursulo each had three hits in four times at bat.

—CIF commissioner Seth Van Patten notified San Diego coach Mike Morrow by telegram that the Hilltoppers’ next opponent would be Calexico at a site to be determined.

5/12/37

Announcing that because one of its players had been hospitalized with an illness, Calexico pulled out and forfeited its quarterfinals playoff game to San Diego.

CIF commissioner Seth Van Patten turned to Blythe Palo Verde Valley. The free-lance school, 220 miles away, on the Arizona border, had petitioned Van Patten for inclusion in postseason play after posting a 5-1 record. Unattached teams had to win three of five games to be eligible, according to CIF rules.

—St. Augustine completed its season with a 10-7 won-loss record and 6-1 victory over Sweetwater at Golden Hill Playground.  Ed (Zip) Vitalich’s three-run home run was supportive of the 11-strikeout, four-hit pitching by John (Red) Keough.

5/20/37

A day earlier than expected, because of a City Stadium schedule conflict with an 11^th Naval District track meet the next day, Blythe took the field against San Diego and went the way of Valencia, 25-3.

San Diego battered Yellowjackets pitcher Eunice Johnson for 19 hits in seven innings of a game that was called after eight innings. The Hillers, leading, 8-0, struck for 13 runs in the fifth inning.

“Blythe knew it was in trouble in the second inning when its catcher nailed his own pitcher (in the back) while trying to throw out a base stealer,” wrote Don King in Caver Conquest, the athletic history of San Diego High.

—Fallbrook’s 16-hit attack overwhelmed Ramona, 9-3, on the Bulldogs’ diamond and gave the Warriors the Southern Prep League championship.

5/26/37

Escondido coach Harry Wexler said he would not play San Diego in a semifinals playoff in City Stadium, next to the San Diego High campus and seemingly tailor-made for the sluggers on San Diego coach Mike Morrow’s squad.

Gamesmanship was in play and Escondido was feeling its oats with a 17-0 record against high school competition and a 10-3 win over the Hilltoppers in the Pomona tournament in March.  San Diego found itself in an elimination game against a team from what it considered the inferior (in comparison to the Coast) Metropolitan League.

Morrow then declared that he would not take his team north to play a game on the Cougars’ diamond.

San Diego Padres owner Bill Lane ended the need for CIF commissioner Seth Van Patten to intervene when Lane made Lane Field available.

Wexler sent pitcher Don Galindo, who had posted a 16-0 record, to face Morrow’s nominee, sophomore Chet Kehn.

A memorable battle ensued with the teams tied, 2-2, after nine innings.

San Diego won, 3-2, when Mel Skelley’s pinch hit single, a line drive to leftfield, scored Al Olsen with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th.

Kehn gave up six hits and was touched for two unearned runs in the first inning.  Kehn and the Hilltoppers avoided disaster in the sixth after John Filippi dropped Fred Valanzano’s fly ball to left field.

Filippi recovered and the Cougars’ Ursulo Galindo, trying to score from second base, was thrown out, Filippi to Jared (J.W.) Scudder to catcher Jess Meyers.

6/5/37

The championship game at Lane Field was anti-climactic following the dramatic win over Escondido. The Hilltoppers trailed early to the Norwalk Excelsior Pilots, who took a 5-4 lead after four innings. Aided by 16 bases on balls, San Diego totaled 11 hits in a 16-8 victory.   J.W. Scudder Chet Kehn, Stanley (Wes) Sharp, and John Filippi each had two hits.

The long game ended the longest wait in the 18-season history of the San Diego Section.  Hilltop’s 3-1 victory over Vista in the 17-inning 2-A finals marked the first year that a team not from the Eastern, Western or Grossmont leagues had won the title.

Championships had been won by Eastern League schools Hoover (4), Crawford (4), San Diego (1), and Patrick Henry (1), the Western League’s University (2), Kearny (1), Madison (1), and Point Loma (1), or the Grossmont League’s Helix (1), Santana (1) or Granite Hills (1).

Keeping with history, Hilltop coach John Baumgarten’s lineage included a link to the Eastern League.  Baumgartner was a 1958 graduate of St. Augustine.

Baumgarten was head coach at Hilltop from 1972-2001 and posted a career record of 407-299. His teams earned seven league titles and the 1983 and ’85 teams won San Diego Section championships.

5/15/79

Eight schools, half of the 16-team bracket, qualified for the San Diego Section playoffs.

Kearny earned the City Conference Eastern League title with an 8-4 win over Clairemont.  Madison claimed the No. 2 spot despite losing to Patrick Henry, 8-6.

University won the City Western League championship, 1-0, over Serra, and Hoover finished second with a 17-4 victory over Mira Mesa.

Hilltop’s 10-5 win over Bonita Vista gave the Lancers the Metropolitan League crown and a No. 2 qualifier went to the Barons.  Castle Park, 6-0 over Sweetwater and Coronado, 6-5 over Marian, filled out the first eight playoff positions.

—Kearny’s third consecutive title was fueled by the complete-game pitching of Mike Bregante and the hitting of Marty Hunter and John Wynns, who each drove in two runs.

—Gary Harris and Bob Warner combined for five runs batted in for Hoover.

—John Alvarez hit his sixth and seventh home runs and Helix beat Grossmont, 9-5, to tie for first place in the Grossmont League with the Foothillers, each with an 11-3 record. Highlanders catcher Jim Oxe was 4 for 4 and 8 for his last 12 at-bats.

5/18/79

Grossmont League teams concluded the regular season with Helix and Grossmont tying for first place after the Highlanders beat Valhalla, 3-1, and Grossmont defeated Monte Vista, 4-1. El Capitan was in the playoffs after a 11-4 win against El Cajon Valley and Mount Miguel, despite a 5-3 loss to Santana, took the final bid.

School bosses voted for Helix as the league’s No. 1 playoff seed.

—El Capitan lefthander Steve Cook allowed three hits and struck out six and the right-hand-hitting Cook was 2 for 3 at the plate, scored three runs, and slugged a home run.

—Steve Lopez’ four-hit pitching stifled Monte Vista and Helix’ Steve Bazzar went the distance for the win over Valhalla.

FINAL STANDINGS

GROSSMONT LEAGUE

LEAGUE						OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.
Helix	13	3	0	.829	—	19	4	0	.826
Grossmont	13	3	0	.829	—	14	7	1	.659
El Capitan	11	5	0	.688	2	14	9	0	.609
Mount Miguel	8	8	0	.500	5	11	11	0	.500
El Cajon Valley	7	9	0	.463	6	9	14	0	.391
Santana	7	9	0	.463	6	9	13	0	.409
Granite Hills	6	10	0	.375	7	8	14	0	.364
Monte Vista	5	11	0	.313	8	8	15	0	.348
Valhalla	1	15	0	.062	12	2	19	0	.

METROPOLITAN LEAGUE

LEAGUE						OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.	GBL		WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.
Hilltop	13	4	1	.750	—		15	6	1	.705
Bonita Vista	11	7	0	.611	2		14	9	0	.609
Castle Park	9	8	1	.528	3 1/2		12	9	1	.568
Coronado	9	9	0	.500	4		9	13	0	.409
Chula Vista	8	9	1	.472	4 ½		12	12	1	.500
Marion	8	10	0	.444	5		11	11	0	.500
Montgomery	8	10	0	.444	5		9	13	0	.409
San Diego Southwest	7	10	1	.417	5 1/2		11	12	1	.479
Sweetwater	7	10	0	.412	6		10	12	0	.455
Mar Vista	7	11	0	.389	6 ½		9	13	0	.409

EASTERN LEAGUE

LEAGUE						OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.
Kearny	11	2	0	.786	—	17	6	0	.737
Madison	9	4	1	.679	1 ½	17	6	1	.729
Patrick Henry	8	6	0	.571	3	16	8	0	.667
Crawford	7	6	1	.536	3 ½	13	10	1	.563
Morse	7	7	0	.500	4	10	12	0	.455
Clairemont	6	8	0	.429	5	14	10	0	.583
San Diego	5	9	0	.357	6	10	12	0	.455
Point Loma	2	12	0	.143	9	5	16	0	.238

WESTERN LEAGUE

LEAGUE						OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.
University	12	2	0	.857	—	20	4	0	.833
Hoover	10	4	0	.714	2	17	6	0	.737
Mission Bay	8	5	1	.607	3 ½	12	10	1	.543
Serra	8	6	0	.571	4	14	9	0	.609
St. Augustine	6	7	1	.464	5 ½	10	12	1	.457
La Jolla	5	9	0	.357	7	9	12	1	.432
Lincoln	4	10	0	.286	8	7	14	0	.333
Mira Mesa	2	12	0	.157	10	4	16	0	.200

AVOCADO WEST

LEAGUE						OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.
Vista	8	3	1	.708	—	13	6	2	.667
Fallbrook	8	4	0	.667	½	12	12	0	.500
San Dieguito	7	5	0	.583	1 ½	14	10	0	.583
Carlsbad	6	5	1	.542	2 1/2	13	10	1	.563
El Camino	6	6	0	.500	3	9	13	—	.409
Oceanside	4	8	0	.333	4	10	12	0	.455
Torrey Pines	2	10	0	.167	6	5	17	0	.227
Mira Mesa	2	12	0	.157	10	4	16	0	.200

AVOCADO EAST

LEAGUE						OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	TIED	Pct.
San Pasqual	9	3	0	.750	—	14	9	0	.609
Mt. Carmel	9	3	0	.750	—	16	7	0	.696
Orange Glen	8	4	0	.667	1	12	10	0	.545
San Marcos	7	5	0	.583	2	12	10	0	.545
Poway	5	7	0	.417	4	8	13	0	.381
Escondido	3	9	0	.250	6	5	16	0	.238
Ramona	1	11	0	.083	8	6	16	0	.273
Mira Mesa	2	12	0	.157	10	4	16	0	.200

5/22/79

SAN DIEGO SECTION PLAYOFFS

FIRST ROUND

University (20-5) 2, @Madison 6.

University’s attempt to be the first team since Crawford in 1964 and ’65 to win back-to-back championships came a cropper when Madison’s Mark Wilson and Bill Watson combined to halt the Dons on five hits.

The Warhawks batted around in the second inning and scored four runs on five singles. Paul Peterson, Steve Clark and Bill Davis paced Madison’s 10-hit attack with two hits each.

Hoover (17-7) 5, @Kearny 6.

—John Wynns hit a two-run home run and Forrest Goodman singled and tripled, and David Buttles pitched a complete-game eight-hitter as Kearny, after losing a five-run lead, scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning for the victory.

El Capitan (14-10) 2, @Grossmont 5.

—Mike Hook gave up one hit, a fourth-inning, bases-empty home run to John Ramirez, and Grossmont defeated El Capitan, with Hook continuing to enjoy a hot streak.  The 6-foot, 170-pound senior pitched a two-hitter and one-hitter in his previous two starts.

Mount Miguel (11-12) 4, @Helix 6.

The Highlanders’ Phil Oyos pitched a complete game victory…in relief.

Oyos stepped in for starter Joe Carter after the Matadors scored four runs before anyone was out in the first inning and allowed two singles and struck out 13.

Coronado (9-15) 3, @Hilltop 12.

Kerry Everette’s two-run home run was among 12 base hits by the Lancers, who led, 8-0, after three innings.

Castle Park (12-10-1) 6, @Bonita Vista 7.

Fallbrook (12-13) 4, @San Pasqual 11.

Trailing, 4-2, the Golden Eagles scored nine runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Mt. Carmel (16-8) 2, @Vista 5.

Bill Baldwin gave up five hits, Tom Davis hit a two-run home run in the first inning, and Vista jumped to a five-run lead in the first three innings.

QUARTERFINALS

5/23/79

Kearny 3, San Pasqual (15-10) 2, @University San Diego.

Kearny players gave coach Jack Taylor a signed birthday card on his 49^th and then delivered a victory.

Steve Dreher relieved starting pitcher Mike Bregante with one out after the Eagles had scored a run and had the tying and winning runs on first and third base.

Dreher got Dan Lane to miss an attempted squeeze bunt that resulted in one runner being tagged out in a run down. Lane then struck out to end the game.

“It was a tough situation but I kind of like pressure,” said Dreher, who moved from his position at third base to the mound.  “I signaled to coach Taylor in the dugout that I was ready if he needed me.”

Hilltop 6, Grossmont (15-8-1) 4, @Grossmont College.

The Lancers rode a five-run first inning to victory.

Vista 5, Madison (18-7-1) 4, @Palomar College.

The Panthers stunned the favored Warhawks with a four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Helix (20-5) 3, Bonita Vista 4, @Grossmont College.

Steve Ray worked his way out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the sixth inning to preserve the Barons’ win over the favored Highlanders.

5/25/79

SEMIFINALS

Hilltop 4, Kearny (19-7) 3, @University San Diego.

Successive singles in the fifth inning by Todd Fileccia, Bryan Wagner, and Manny Salinas scored one run and a hit batter forced in another run as Hilltop tied the score at 3, and Wagner’s double over the centerfielder’s head, drove in the winning run in the seventh.

Vista 11, Bonita Vista (16-10) 1, @Grossmont College.

Ed Lisi’s three-run home run highlighted a four-run third inning and Doug Moxley’s grand slam in the top of the sixth was the coup de grace as Vista hammered the Barons, handcuffed by Bill Grim’s two-hit pitching.

5/26/79

CHAMPIONSHIP

Hilltop (19-6-1) 3, Vista (16-7-1) 1, 17 Innings, @University San Diego.

The game was so long, five hours, that the 1-A title contest between Christian and Mountain Empire had to be rescheduled to the following Wednesday.

With the score tied, 1-1, Hilltop’s Howard Rasmussen drew a one-out walk in the top of the 17^th.  Rob Hughes’ single advanced Rasmussen to third and Todd Fileccia, hitless in his first five times at bat, singled in Rasmussen.  Hughes scored one out later on a single by Manny Salinas.

Bill Collins pitched the first 8 1/3 innings for Hilltop and Davie Martinez blanked the Panthers over the last 8 2/3 innings.  Panthers starter Bill Baldwin pitched 10 innings before giving way to three relievers.

The sides combined for 28 base hits, all singles.  Collins gave up one run in the first and survived a near disaster in the bottom of the seventh, when the Panthers loaded the bases with none out.

After a walk in the ninth inning, Lancers coach John Baumgartner called on Martinez, normally used in short relief.

Bryan Wagner and Hughes each had three hits for the Metro League squad.  Ron Tart and Charlie Somers had three hits each for the Avocado West representative.

5/30/79

1-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Mountain Empire defeated Christian, 2-0, at University of San Diego, snapping a two-game losing streak to the Patriots this season and preventing Christian from a third consecutive 1-A championship.

Junior Mike Davis cuffed the Patriots on two hits, singles by Dave Tenney and Kenny Watson.  Davis struck out 4 and walked 4.

6/4/79

Helix’ Jim Oxe hit a bases-loaded single in the fourth inning to lead County seniors to a 4-3 win over the City in the annual San Diego Baseball Coaches’ All-Star game at University San Diego.

Dick Serrano coached his second San Diego Section championship team and continued to leave a legacy at the school, from which he graduated in 1961 and which he guided the baseball program for 30 years until his retirement after the 2000 season.

Unlike the 1972 team that finished the regular season with a 12-10 record and third place in the Western League, Serrano’s 1978 club was 21-3 and ranked first in the County by the Evening Tribune heading into the postseason.

The Dons defeated four playoff teams with combined records of 66-33 over a five-day span of solid starting and relief pitching and timely (home runs) hitting and they became the only team other than Santana in 1970 to win their division of the Lions Tournament and a league championship to go with the Section title.

Tom Keating was the ace of Serrano’s pitching staff with a 1.98 earned-run average and 78 strikeouts in 105 innings of a 15-1 season.  Keating threw strikes on 62 of 85 pitches in the championship game.

5/2/78

The San Diego Section board of managers approved a proposal for the 1978-79 school year calling for playoff competition in 3-A, 2-A, and 1-A divisions.  The new setup adds one more classification to the existing 2-A, 1-A alignment.

The move will affect football, boys’ basketball, and baseball, said CIF commissioner Kendall (Spider) Webb.

—Marian hit five home runs, including two by Mike Owens, and won a 13-8 slugfest from San Diego Southwest.

—Future baseball executive Billy Beane, who was played by Brad Pitt in the movie “Money Ball,” homered in Mt. Carmel’s 9-4 win at El Camino.

—Tom Zeithing hurled a no-hitter and battery mate Craig Earley hit a two-run home run in the second inning that was all Zeithing needed in a 6-0 San Pasqual victory over Ramona.

5/5/78

—Orange Glen, a 3-15 team in 1977 and playing with junior varsity graduates who were almost equally unsuccessful last year, beat Escondido and ace Brad Palmer, 4-3, to improve to 7-1 in the Avocado East, a game ahead of the host Cougars.

5/12/78

Billy Beane hit a pair of two-run home runs and Mt. Carmel routed San Pasqual, 14-3.

—Carlsbad overcame a 7-4 Vista lead with five runs in the last half of the seventh inning.   John Hickman tripled with two out and the bases loaded for an 8-7 Lancers victory.

5/18/78

FINAL STANDINGS

EASTERN

LEAGUE					OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	Pct.
Patrick Henry	10	4	.714	—	18	5	.783
Kearny	10	4	.714	—	16	8	.667
Madison	9	5	.643	1	15	8	.652
Clairemont	8	6	.571	2	15	8	.652
Morse	7	7	.500	3	10	10	.500
California	6	8	.429	4	12	12	.500
Point Loma	4	10	.286	6	8	13	.381
San Diego	2	12	.167	8	5	16	.238

WESTERN                               

LEAGUE					OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	Pct.
University	12	2	.857	—	21	3	.875
Hoover	12	2	.857	—	18	6	.750
Serra	7	7	.500	5	13	8	.619
Lincoln	7	7	.500	5	11	10	.524
St. Augustine	5	9	.357	7	10	13	.435
Mission Bay	4	10	.286	8	7	14	.333
Mira Mesa	1	13	.071	11	4	16	.200

GROSSMONT        

LEAGUE					OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	Pct.
Helix	13	3	.829	—	17	5	.773
El Cajon Valley	11	5	.688	2	12	10	.545
Grossmont	10	6	.625	3	13	10	.565
Granite Hills	9	7	.563	4	15	9	.625
Santana	8	8	.500	5	9	13	.409
El Capitan	7	9	.438	6	11	12	.478
Valhalla	7	9	.438	6	12	12	.500
Mount Miguel	4	12	9	9	5	17	.227
Monte Vista	3	13	.188	10	4	16	.200

METROPOLITAN                                       

LEAGUE					OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	Pct.
Marian	16	2	.889	—	18	2	.900
Bonita Vista	11	5	.688	5	11	9	.550
Montgomery	11	7	.611	6	12	10	.545
Chula Vista	10	7	.588	6 ½	12	10	.545
Hilltop	9	9	.500	7	10	12	.455
Castle Park	7	11	.388	9	11	13	.458
Coronado	6	11	.353	9 ½	9	14	.391
Sweetwater	6	11	.353	9 ½	7	15	.318
San Diego Southwest	6	12	.333	10	8	14	.364
Mar Vista	5	12	.294	11	6	.15	.286

AVOCADO EAST         

LEAGUE					OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	Pct.
Orange Glen	10	2	.833	—	14	8	.636
Escondido	10	2	.833	—	16	6	.727
Mt. Carmel	8	4	.667	2	15	7	.628
San Marcos	5	7	.417	5	6	16	.273
San Pasqual	4	8	.333	6	5	17	.227
Ramona	3	9	.250	7	7	16	.304
Poway	2	10	.167	8	5	16	.238

AVOCADO WEST                

LEAGUE					OVERALL
TEAM	WON	LOST	Pct.	GBL	WON	LOST	Pct.
Fallbrook	10	2	.833	—	15	5	.714
Carlsbad	8	3	.727	1 1/2	17	4	.810
Torrey Pines	7	4	.636	2 ½	13	7	.650
San Dieguito	5	7	.417	5	9	9	.500
El Camino	4	7	.364	5 ½	5	16	.238
Oceanside	3	8	.273	6 ½	8	12	.400
Vista	2	8	.200	8	5	14	.263

5/23/78

PLAYOFFS

2-A FIRST ROUND (INTRALEAGUE).

GROSSMONT CONFERENCE

4 Granite Hills 5, @1 Helix (17-6) 3.

Kent Paine’s two home runs was the difference for the Eagles, whose Tony Haymes set down the Highlanders on four hits.

3 Grossmont (13-11) 1, @2 El Cajon Valley 5.

Henry Garcia’s three-run homer in the first inning augmented complete-game pitching by Troy Embleton.

CITY CONFERENCE

2 Western Hoover (18-7) 4, @Eastern 1 Kearny 5.

Dennis Jones’s double scored Steve Dreher, who had walked, and Steve Brinkley, who had been hit by a pitch, in the Komets’ walk-off victory.

2 Eastern Patrick Henry (18-6), 4, vs. Western 1 University 5, @University San Diego.

Adam Asaro hit a game-winning home run in the last of the seventh inning, after the Patriots had tied the score at 4-4 with a two-run single in the top of the inning.  Righthander Tom Keating won his 14^th game in 15 decisions.

METROPOLITAN CONFERENCE

4 Chula Vista (12-11) 0, @1 Marian 4.

Paul Kelly’s three-run home run in the sixth inning and Paul Torano’s four-hit pitching advanced the Crusaders.

3 Montgomery 7, @2 Bonita Vista (11-11) 6.

John Rice’s two-run triple sparked a five-run fifth inning for the Aztecs.

AVOCADO CONFERENCE

2 West Escondido 5, @1 East Fallbrook (15-7) 4.

Zac Garcia’s two home runs backed the two-hit pitching of Brad Palmer, who struck out 13 and survived a three-run home run by Mark Fleming.

2 West Carlsbad (17-5) 4, @1 East Orange Glen 5.

Greg West allowed three hits and became a winner when Mark Kubilus doubled in two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

1-A SEMIFINALS

2 Coastal Army-Navy 3, @1 Mountain Christian 18.

2 Mountain Mountain Empire 5, @4 Coastal Francis Parker 13.

5/24/78

QUARTERFINALS

Granite Hills (16-10) 2, vs. University 6, @University San Diego.

“Be a hero,” entreated University coach Dick Serrano to relief pitcher Chris Cohn in the first inning.

Cohn, a junior reliever with just 18 career innings, went the last 6 1/3, allowing four hits and single runs in the second and third and the Dons moved on after Dave Martinez’ triple cleared the bases and Ron Egan’s sacrifice fly made for a four-run sixth.

Orange Glen (15-9) 4, vs. Montgomery 7, @Palomar College.

Three Patriots errors led to a five-run first inning for the Aztecs.

Escondido 4, vs. Marian (19-3) 1, @Southwestern College.

The Cougars broke a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning with four runs.  Catcher Ron O’Rourke drove in the first run with a triple, scoring pitcher Brad Palmer.

O’Rourke scored on an error and Bryan Luskey’s single off pitcher Bryan Delore’s leg scored two more.

Kearny 10, vs. El Cajon Valley (13-11) 3, @Grossmont College.

The Komets, leading, 3-2, scored seven times in the fifth and sixth innings.  One of Brian Giles’ three doubles ignited a three-run fifth after two were out.  Steve Dreher and Dennis Jones drove in two runs each.

5/26/78

SEMIFINALS

Montgomery (13-11) 1, vs. University 6, @University San Diego. 

Mario Estrada, knocked out of the quarterfinals game with a jammed thumb after flagging down a line drive, came on in relief of Dan Sousa and shut down a bases loaded threat in the second inning and then allowed two hits and an unearned run over the distance.

The Dons’ Dave Martinez had three hits in three times at bat and drove in four runs.  Ron Egan singled in two runs and Dan Anguiano scored three runs.

Kearny (18-9) 5, vs. Escondido 8, @Grossmont College.

“I’ve never seen Brad hit that hard, never,” Cougars coach Bill Townsend told Henry Wesch of The San Diego Union.

Townsend was referring to pitcher Brad Palmer, making his third appearance of the playoffs, following a route-going first round and relief the next day.

“He didn’t have his overpowering fastball; he walked more guys than usual (5) …but still, if we play good defense behind him we probably only give up one run,” said Townsend.

Komets second baseman Brian Giles doubled in leadoff batter Brian Villandre in the first inning and doubled in another run in the third. Giles scored on Steve Brinkley’s single in the fifth.

Six of Escondido’s 10 hits off four pitchers came in a five-run fourth, which featured two-out hits by Mark Schmidt, Ben Sanchez, Zac Garcia, and Brian Luskey.

Kearny managed a 5-5 tie, but the Cougars scored three more runs in the bottom of the sixth on five walks and a bunt single. Palmer closed out the victory with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh inning.

5/27/78

2-A CHAMPIONSHIP

Escondido (19-7) 1, vs. University (25-3) 11, @ University San Diego.

Tom Keating (15-1) set down 18 consecutive batters and took a perfect game into the seventh inning, when an error and infield single ended the University pitcher’s pursuit.

Keating sailed to an 11-1 victory over the Cougars, who did not call on weary ace Brad Palmer to make a fourth consecutive appearance of the week.

“From about the fourth or fifth inning I knew I had the no-hitter, “ the 6-foot, 3-inch junior told Henry Wesch of The San Diego Union.   I wanted it, but it didn’t happen,”

First baseman Dan Souza led the Dons’ 11-hit attack with two prodigious home runs. The first, a three-run shot in the first inning, went over the fence near the 390-foot marker in right center field.  The second cleared trees behind the 375-foot sign in left center.

Souza, a .284 hitter during the regular season, was 5 for 10 in the playoffs with three home runs.

“We know we didn’t face their best pitcher, but that’s part of the game,” said Uni coach Dick Serrano.  “We were hoping to get an early lead so we wouldn’t have to see Palmer in the late innings in relief with the score close.”

1-A CHAMPIONSHIP.

Francis Parker 0, vs. Christian 3, @University San Diego.

The Lancers were shut down by Christian’s Tom Meinhert,  who pitched a no-hitter.

 

San Diego’s march to a Southern Section championship was derailed by Glendale in the most confusing finish in the 20-season career of coach Mike Morrow.

“Bait and switch”  is a often-used political term for what happened to the Hilltoppers.

They were told by CIF boss Seth Van Patten that a victory over Norwalk Excelsior in their second playoff (semifinal) would result in a championship encounter the following week in Lane Field against Compton.

Days later coach Mike Morrow’s team was forced to a second playoff semifinal which they lost to Glendale, 3-2 (below).

STEADY DUO

All-Southern California Al Olsen and Chet Kehn were the  pitchers who delivered most of the Hillers’ success.

Olsen would spend much of 11 seasons pitching for the San Diego Padres and later was athletic director at San Diego State and a California senior tennis champion.

Morrow said of his lefthanded ace: “I never saw a high school pitcher with as much real stuff.  He puts something on each pitch. In the two years Olsen pitched for me I never saw him throw a straight fast ball.  It always has a hop or zip on it. He has wrapped his curve ball around more than one hitter’s neck.”

“Kehn has about the fastest breaking curve ball I ever saw,” added Morrow.

4/1/38

Lefthander Al Olsen gave up three hits and a run in the first inning to Alhambra, but recovered to strike out 15 batters and pitch San Diego to an 8-4 Coast League win over the visiting Moors.

Olsen also was 2 for 4 at the plate and scored two runs.  First baseman Ted Kerr added three hits..

—Burt Kenmuir allowed only four hits, but Long Beach Wilson scored the first half of a weekend sweep with a 1-0 win at Hoover in the afternoon before Wilson’s under-the-lights, dual meet victory in track.

—Sweetwater’s Boyd McGee shut out Point Loma on three hits, 6-0, in a Metropolitan League game on the Red Devils’ diamond.

—The brothers Galindo did it all in a 12-0 Escondido victory at Oceanside.   Adon (Don) Galindo handcuffed the Pirates on two hits, struck out nine, and  hit two doubles and a single.  Battery mate Ursulo had three hits, and first baseman Pete doubled twice and homered.

4/5/38

San Diego Padres owner Bill Lane allowed use of Lane Field to Hoover and San Diego for a night game, which was a preview for Hilltoppers pitcher Al Olsen, who later would go on to an 11-season career with the PCL San Diego Padres.

Olsen struck out 17 Cardinals, gave up two hits to third baseman Ed Neumeister, and hurled a 7-4 victory.

Olsen recovered from a shaky second inning when Hoover scored three runs on five walks, wild pitch, passed ball and Neumeister’s double.

The Coast League game drew an estimated 3,200 persons, according to The San Diego Union writer Mitch Angus.

—The Marine Corps Recruit Depot Devildogs overcame a 4-3 lead by San Diego with four runs in the seventh inning, driving pitcher Duane Pillette from the mound, and two more in the eighth for a 9-6 victory.

Manuel (Nay) Hernandez and Al Olsen each had three hits for the visitors.

4/8/38

John (Red) Keogh pitched St. Augustine to a 6-4 victory over the San Diego State freshmen at Central Elementary playground.  Keogh’s catcher was Benny Hemus, older brother of future major league player and manager Solly Hemus.

—Hoover beat Oceanside Junior College, 11-1, as pitcher Jerry Henlon, exiled for almost eight months in an eligibility beef with the CIF, went the distance on the mound for the Cardinals, allowing four hits.

Cardinals outfielder Doug Donnan led the way with three hits in three times at the plate.

—San Diego amassed 17 hits and won, 14-6, at Long Beach Wilson. Fred Martinez collected four hits and Chet Kehn went the distance on the mound despite giving up 13 hits.

—An eighth-inning base on balls deprived Escondido’s Adon (Don) Galindo of a perfect game. Galindo did not allow a hit and shut out Grossmont, 10-0.  Adon and his battery mate catcher and brother Ursulo each had two hits.

—Boyd McGee walked seven and hit two batters but pitched seven innings of Sweetwater’s 16-6 win at Oceanside.

4/9/38

Al Olsen and guest San Diego High pounded out 17 hits and defeated the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, 13-9. Olsen staggered the distance, giving up 12 hits, but shut out the Devildogs in the last four innings.

Chet Kehn and Stan Sharp homered or the Hilltoppers.

4/13/38

Three San Diego County squads were among the 43 schools entered in the Pomona 20-30 Rotary Club tournament, with Escondido, the defending champion, arriving a day earlier, followed by St. Augustine and San Diego.

Hoover and Sweetwater passed on the event.  The Red Devils cited a lack of players.

—Hoover was not idle, dropping a 3-2 decision to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot on the base diamond when Bob (The Clown) Trometter* tripled in two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

*Trometter was better known later as Robert (Bull) Trometter, the no-nonsense and respected football coach of the Devildogs and the University of San Diego High.

4/14/38-4/16/38

San Diego reached the semifinals of the Pomona 20-30 Rotary Club tournament but fell to Long Beach Wilson, 3-2.   Wilson lost to Long Beach Poly, 8-1, in the championship game.

San Diego had advanced by defeating the Riverside Sherman Indians, 7-1; Pomona Fremont Junior High, 10-0, and Pomona, 15-2.

Manuel (Nay) Hernandez struck four singles, double, triple, and 2 home runs in the four games.

Defending champion Escondido defeated Azusa Citrus, 2-0, and Huntington Beach, 8-0, but lost to Long Beach Poly, 7-1.  St. Augustine, after 6-5 and 2-1 victories over Brea-Olinda and Bonita, respectively, dropped a 5-4 decision to Norwalk Excelsior.

4/22/38

Escondido’s Don Galindo gave up one hit and the Cougars claimed their second straight Metropolitan League championship, 8-0, over visiting La Jolla.

In five league victories this season, Galindo gave up one run and five hits in 45 innings, which included a no-hitter versus Grossmont.

—Point Loma won its first Metropolitan League game, 8-2, over Oceanside at Golden Hill playground.  The Pointers’ Chaffey Keiber struck out 10 and gave up four hits.

—San Diego took a two-run lead into the ninth inning at Long Beach Poly, but the Jackrabbits dealt the Hillers their first Coast League defeat, 7-6.

—Pitchers Jerry Henlon and Dell Oliver also homered and Alhambra was faced with a long ride home after the Cardinals, beginning with eight runs in the first inning, cruised to a 16-hit, 16-5 victory.

4/29/38

San Diego was silent for eight innings and then parlayed three hits, two errors, and walk in the top of the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory at Alhambra.  Sore-armed Al Olsen started for the Hilltoppers., but was relieved by Bill Morales, and Chet Kehn, who got the win.

—Point Loma struck 15 hits in a 19-6 Metropolitan League victory at Grossmont.  Chaffey Keiber pitched the victory and Peebles, Paul (Red) Isom, and Mathis combined to contribute 10 hits for the Pointers.

5/1/38

San Diego’s Al Olsen and Manuel (Nan) Hernandez were honored with other high school and collegiate athletes between games of a Hollywood Stars-L.A. Angels Pacific Coast League doubleheader at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.

Olsen was named most-valuable player in the district, according to Bill Schroeder of the sponsoring Helms Athletic Foundation, although the honor of the first CIF Southern Section player of the year went to Long Beach Wilson’s Bob Lemon.

5/2/38

San Diego clinched its second consecutive Coast League title and 10^th in the last 11 years, 11-3, over Hoover.

The Hilltoppers greeted Cardinals pitcher Jerry Henlon, who transferred from San Diego at the start of the school year, with a five-run outburst in the first inning.

Bert Kenmuir relieved Henlon and gave up two more runs as the Hillers totaled seven on four hits and two errors.

Pitcher Chet Kehn went the distance for San Diego and stranded 13 baserunners while allowing eight hits.  Del Oliver hurled the final eight innings for Hoover, allowing four runs and eight hits.

About 10 donkeys, used in softball games, roamed the outfield, according to Mitch Angus of The San Diego Union. The asses generally were not intrusive except when Cardinals leftfielder Jim Moore found himself in their midst chasing a triple by Mel Skelley.

Originally scheduled at Lane Field, the second Hoover-San Diego game was moved to Hoover and the Monroe Avenue diamond.  The change was necessitated because of a Lane Field boxing card and installation of a ring.

5/3/38

St. Augustine’s Ed Vitalich gave up one hit at Golden Hill Playground enroute to the Saints’ 5-0 victory over Point Loma.  The safety was a single in the last of the seventh inning by the Pointers’ Peebles.

5/6/38

John (Red) Keogh homered and the battery of Ed Vitalich and Benny Hemus led St. Augustine to a 5-1 victory over the Naval Hospital team, 5-1, at Golden Hill Playground.

5/14/38

Visiting San Diego collected 11 hits off Don Galindo and took advantage of seven errors to defeat Escondido, 4-0, in the opening round of the CIF playoffs on the Cougars’ diamond.

Manuel (Nan) Hernandez’ home run, followed by Al Olsen’s triple and Tony Angeles’ base hit gave the Hilltoppers a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Olsen singled in Hernandez an inning later.

Olsen worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning and gave up three hits in his nine inning complete game.

5/15/38

Ed Vitalich took a two-hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning, tied with San Diego, 3-3, but the Hilltoppers’ Hal Summers doubled and scored on Freddie Martinez’ single for a 4-3 loss for the St. Augustine hurler.

Chet Kehn gave up four hits and was the winning pitcher.

5/24/38

First baseman Ted Kerr was named winner of The San Diego Union trophy as most-valuable player on the San Diego High team.

Kerr led the Hilltoppers with a .328 batting average and was cited for being a leader in citizenship, scholarship, and sportsmanship.

5/28/38

Gamesmanship prevailed in the semifinals playoff game at Lane Field.

San Diego defeated Norwalk Excelsior, 10-5, as “petty squabbles enlivened the game from the spectators’ viewpoint,” wrote Mitch Angus of The Union.

Section commissioner Seth Van Patten assigned the two umpires after Excelsior said it would not play in San Diego with umpires from the San Diego association.

Plate arbiter Sugar Cain heard complaints from both dugouts.  Base umpire E.Y. Johnson also was under fire.

Excelsior pitcher Carl Barnes dug virtual gopher holes in front of the mound rubber.  Hilltoppers pitcher Al Olsen would take his time to cover the holes when he took the mound each inning.

Other than nine bases on balls, Barnes also was charged with a hit batter and six wild pitches, which provided the Hillers with two runs.

Olsen gave up eight hits and weathered a storm in the third inning, when the Pilots took a 5-0 lead on four hits, including a bases loaded triple by Bob Whitts.

The victory sent the Hilltoppers into next week’s finals against Compton.

6/1/38

CIF honcho Seth Van Patten informed the Hillers that they would have to play a “second” semifinal playoff game.   No published reason was given other than that San Diego officials were baffled.

The game would be against Glendale at Brookside Park in Pasadena, with the winner advancing to a championship game against Compton.

6/3/38

The “second” semifinal was disastrous.  Glendale scored a 3-2 victory over San Diego.

Four errors, lack of hits with men on base, and carelessness on the base paths doomed the Hilltoppers, whose runners were picked off base three times.

Losing pitcher Al Olsen gave up four hits in his final game (Olsen would graduate in Jan. 1939) and the Hilltoppers ended their season with an 18-4-1 record.