After wrapping up the Eastern League title, the Pointer baseball team began play earlier this week in CIF Div. II playoffs.
The Pointers (20-9-1 overall) were assigned the No. 5 seed in the playoffs, a tough spot since seeds 1-4 received a bye during the play-in round. The loser’s season is ended, while the winner enters the double-elimination playoffs.
They drew No. 12 seed El Camino (11-17) the two teams having already met for the play-in Tuesday of this week. The winner was scheduled to play No. 4 seed Ramona Wednesday, a first-round game that would be played at Ramona, the lower seed earning the home game.  
If the Pointers survive these two games, they would play again tomorrow (Friday) in the second round against either No. 1 San Marcos, No. 8 Santa Fe Christian or No. 9 Mission Hills.
Third round games are set for Saturday, May 27, and the fourth round Tuesday, May 30. Div. II finals will be played Saturday, June 3 at University of San Diego’s Fowler Park at 1:30 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Pointer boys wrapped up their league championship with a one-inning burst of runs that gave them a 4-0 victory over runner-up Patrick Henry last week at David Wells Field.
It was the home third inning when the Pointers struck, with second baseman Trevor Sykes hitting a ball that got by the Patriots’ shortstop. Right fielder Frank Rogozienski was walked. Shortstop Justin DaLuz’s perfect bunt rolled to a stop in fair territory down the third baseline to load the bases with no outs.
Mitchell Sardo then surprised the Patriots, hitting a slow roller down the third baseline, and during the Patriots’ failed attempt to complete a double play, Sykes scored from third for a 1-0 lead.
A sharp line drive up the middle by Anthony Hall bounced off the mound and into the outfield as two Dog runners raced home for a 3-0 lead. Matt Amberg, on base with a hit, was caught in a rundown between second and third base before Hunter Otjen followed with another drive up the middle to score the final run. The ball skipped by the Patriots’ center fielder for an error before Otjen, running at full speed, tried for a home run but was thrown out at the plate for the third out.
The defensive play of the game came in the top of the first inning when a deep drive by a Patrick Henry hitter was run down near the left centerfield fence by Santiago Gomez, who made a spectacular catch over his right shoulder while still running towards the fence.
Andrew Johnson went the distance on the mound for the Pointers, scattering four hits, walking one and striking out two, to improve his season record to 5-2 with a 1.36 ERA.
In his postgame comments to the team, head coach David Wells complimented his players on both their first league championship in decades and on winning their 20th game which capped a seven-game winning streak.
In the team’s return match last week on the Patriots’ diamond, the Pointer defense, normally rock solid, had an off day and Pointer bats couldn’t put any runs on the board as the Patriots walked off with a 3-0 win.
Starting pitcher Mitchell Sardo’s record dropped to 7-2 (1.34 ERA) as he was touched for six hits and charged with all three runs before reliever Dan Berry worked out of a fifth inning jam and Austin Correia came on to pitch the final inning, allowing only one hit.
The Pointer pitching staff turned in a sparkling 1.24 ERA, allowing only 36 earned runs in 202.2 innings. Third starter Gomez was 2-4 (1.54 ERA). Other pitchers are A.J. Shrader (0-0, 0.00 ERA), Hall (2-4, 2.33), Roman Paniagua (1-0, 0.54), Berry (1-0, 1.34) and Austin Correia  (3-0, 1.91).
Offensively, the Dogs hit at a .266 clip as a team. Team leaders include: Plate appearances: Rogozienski, 106; Batting average: DaLuz, .326; Runs: Rogozienski, 20; Hits: DaLuz, 28; Doubles: Sardo, 5; Triples: Rogozienski, 2; RBI: Sardo, 11; Stolen bases: Amberg, 9.
The Pointer junior varsity went 22-5 overall (10-2 in league) to win their league championship and the freshman team compiled a 15-4 record (12-1 in league) to earn a No. 2 seed in their AAU post-season tournament.