
The baseball gods were smiling down on Point Loma High’s team.
In order to win a second straight Eastern League title they needed to sweep their three-game series against La Jolla, which they did last week.
But they also needed Serra to defeat Mira Mesa in their final league game to prevent a three-way Eastern League tie, which would have given the league championship to the Marauders who held a tiebreaker by beating the Pointers two of three games.
So on the last day of the season May 16, after defeating the Vikes 3-1, the Pointers reclined on the outfield turf of the La Jolla field and awaited the end of the Mira Mesa-Serra game via telephone reports.
When word came of the final out in a 4-2 Serra victory, the Pointers erupted in cheers as they officially repeated as Eastern League champions entering CIF playoffs, which began earlier this week.
The Pointers were ranked No. 11 of 20 Div. II teams and received the No. 9 seed of 12 playoff teams at the CIF pairings meeting.
In baseball, teams seeded 1-4 receive a bye while teams 5-12 meet in a “play-in” round. The Pointers were scheduled to meet No. 8 seed Brawley on Tuesday of this week. The game was played at David Wells Field because the Pointers are league champions. Normally games are played at the field of the highest seed.
From this point on, the playoffs become double elimination. If the Pointers won this game they were scheduled to meet No. 1 seed Mission Hills in the first round yesterday (Wednesday) at Mission Hills. That winner was to meet the survivor of games between No. 5 Canyon Crest, No. 12 Serra and No. 4 Otay Ranch tomorrow.
In the three-game La Jolla series, Mitchell Sardo was 5 for 10 at the plate with two doubles, two stolen bases, two runs scored and four runs batted in.
Josh Ball was 4-8 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI’s.
Jared Bacon was 3-8 with two stolen bases, two runs scored and three RBI’s.
Other RBI’s went to Jeffrey Barber (two) A.J. Schrader, Connor Ludwig, Jack Early, Jesus Noriega and Julio Avalos.
On the mound, Austin Curtice threw nine innings in two games, walking four and striking out 13. He was credited with two of the victories, one in relief.
Austin Correia, in what head coach David Wells called his best work of the year, threw five innings giving up only one hit, walking none and striking out six for one of the victories.
In relief, Dylan Vaughn gave up only his first walk of the season in 13 appearances covering 21 innings. He has struck out 13. Extra points
– A total of 12 seniors were honored before the final regular season home game May 14. Before the game, each player was introduced and walked the first base line to home plate, meeting his parents walking the third base line. Each player’s favorite memories and future plans were read over the PA system. In addition, each received a mounted 20-by-30 inch action photo of themself with their name and other graphics created by parent Anabel Sardo.