LA COSTA CANYON HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

La Costa Canyon's 11-1 win over El Camino combined with Carlsbad's 4-2 win over Mt Carmel enabled the Mavericks to clinch sole possession of 2nd place in the Avocado League. The Mavericks have finished first or second in each of it's eight Avocado League seasons. Garrett VanLeeuwen earned his second pitching win of the year and finished the game pitching to his brother Derek VanLeeuwen. The first brother - brother pitcher catcher combination since Tyler Ryan was pitching to his brother Matt Ryan in 2002. Nick Burke hit a three run home run in the third inning for his 3rd home run of the year. This Wednesdays final regular season game against Mt Carmel (7-7,17-12)is still a very important game as the Mavericks (9-5,20-9) battle for that No. 4 Division 1 seed and a first day bye in the CIF Playoffs. SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE BASEBALL RANKINGS (Through May 16th) 1. Fallbrook (I) 25-4-0 2. Valhalla (II) 22-4-0 3. Rancho Bernardo (I) 24-5-0 4. Montgomery (I) 24-5-0 5. Mission Bay (III) 22-6-0 6. La Costa Canyon (I) 19-9-0 7. USDHS (III) 19-8-0 8. Rancho Buena Vista (I) 16-11-0 9. Granite Hills (I) 17-8-2 10. Santana (III) 19-8-1

The Mavericks battled from behind yesterday to defeat El Camino 12-7 in the Avocado league opener. After spotting the Wildcats 4 runs in the first the Mavericks were able to chip away for five in the bottom half, three in the third, and four in the sixth. Jimmy Voaklander was able to settle down and go four innings for his second win on the season. Garrett VanLeeuwen closed the game going two and a third innings allowing 0 runs. Offensively the Mavericks were led by Doug Konoske (3B, 1B, 2R, 2RBI's), and Scott Clement (2B, 1B, 2R, 2RBI's). The Mavericks also got some clutch pinch hitting from Cole Duccey who hit a 1-2 pitch to left scoring 2 runs. The win moves the Mavs record to 12-4, and 1-0 in Avocado league play. The Mavericks play Wednesday at Mt. Carmel @ 3:15.

In the finals of the Classic Division at Pt. Loma College the Mavericks lost a close contest with the Montgomery Aztecs 3-2. Kevin Patterson started on the mound for the Mavericks and went five strong innings allowing two runs. It was a spectacular effort for the right hander. He was relieved by Chris Brookey in the sixth. The Mavericks were unable to get going offensively due to strong Montgomery pitching and defense. In the sixth the Mavs had their chances with the bases loaded and one out, but were unable to punch in the tying run. In the seventh they also had another chance but the left bases loaded again to lose for only the fourth time this year. The Mavericks move their record to 11-4 on the season and begin league play on Monday against El Camino at home.

In the semi finals of the Lions Tournament defense and pitching would take precedence. On the mound for the Mavericks was Garrett VanLeeuwen who pitched a wonderful sixth innings. In doing so he allowed 4 hits, 3 runs, and 1K in earning his first victory of the year. VanLeeuwen kept the RBV hitters off balance all day changing speeds with 12 of the outs being fly blls. Niether team was able to score until the sixth when the Mavs rallied for four runs on five hits. The inning was highlighted by a Doug Konoske double into the left center gap that scored two. In the seventh VanLeeuwen was unable to record an out as RBV punched a run across on two walks and a double. With men on second and third Scott Clement came in relieve. He recorded the first out but was unable to get another. With the bases loaded and one out Kevin Patterson came in to close it out. Facing the the heart of the RBV lineup he was able to get a strike out and a ground out to end the game. In doing so Garrett VanLeeuwen earned his first win and Patterson got his first save. The win moves the Mavericks record to 11-3 and sends them to the Championship at Pt. Loma Nazarene College to play Montgomery.

With two outs and men on first and second Bryan Ernst hit a single to left to score Jimmy Pierce and defeat the Rancho Bernardo Broncos 3-2. Rancho Bernardo went on top early scoring in the first and the third innings for a 2-0 lead. That would be all they would get as Doug Konoske settled in and went the distance for the his fifth win on the season. In doing so Doug had eight strikeouts, six hits, and two walks. In the third the Mavs answered back with two outs as Nick Burke, Kevin Patterson, and Scott Clement had consecutive singles to close the game to 2-1. In the sixth the Mavs answered again when Kyle Musella scored on a error by the shortstop tying the game at 2-2. The win in the seventh moves the Mavericks record to 10-3, and sends them to the semi finals matchup against Rancho Buena Vista tomorrow at Mesa College.