For recaps of games prior to April 9, please visit Varsity Game Recaps 2 (click on link) 

May 7, 2008

Claremont 3, Los Osos 2 (CHS record: 13-12, 7-8)  

    Senior pitcher Kevin Bosson struck out 15 batters Wednesday en route to his fourth complete game and fifth win of the season, pitching Claremont to a 3-2 victory over Los Osos at the Wolf Den.

    But the excitement from the impressive win was dampened by news that Rancho Cucamonga defeated Alta Loma in 12 innings, forging a tie for third place between the Cougars and Wolfpack. Because Rancho Cucamonga beat Claremont two of three games this season, Rancho earned third place in the Baseline League and will advance to the CIF-Southern Section Division II playoffs.   

    The day began as Claremont's six seniors --  Bosson, Anthony Cerafice, James French, Logan GrosJean, Matt Sangsland and Greg Vogel -- were recognized and honored with their parents prior to the game.  With emotions riding high, Claremont took the field in the top of the first inning in front of a capacity crowd at the Wolf Den.   Bosson set the stage early, retiring the side in order, two via strikeouts.  Claremont threatened in the bottom of the first inning, but the game remained scoreless.    

    In the top of the second inning, Bosson surrendered a leadoff single to standout catcher Richard Brehaut before retiring the next three hitters, two via strikeouts.  The Wolfpack struck first in the bottom of the inning.  With Notre Dame-bound Dustin Ispas on the hill, Greg Vogel led off with a line-drive double to the right-center gap.  Matt Sangsland followed with a bloop single that landed just inside the right field line, putting runners on first and second with no outs.  Phil Gonzalez drew a walk to load the bases.  James French hit a slow roller to third base that allowed Vogel to score from third as French was thrown out at first base for the first out.  With Sangsland advancing to third and Gonzalez to second, Manny Argomaniz hit a grounder to shortstop.  The shortstop set to throw home, but his feet slipped on the wet grass and his throw sailed, allowing Sangsland to score and Gonzalez to take third.  But Logan GrosJean struck out and Erick Cruz grounded out to third to end the threat.   

    Los Osos answered in the top of the third inning.  Barnes led off with a single and Rogina struck out.  Dresner hit a hard grounder that first baseman French made a fine play on, retiring Barnes at second for the second out.  Dresner swiped second base just ahead of Matt Anderson's throw, and Arby Fields then lined a double in the gap to plate Dresner.  Bosson struck out All-American Isaac Galloway to end the inning.  After the Pack went in order in the bottom of the third, the Grizzlies tied the game in the fourth.  With one out, Jake Hernandez tripled off of Vogel's glove in left field; Vogel almost made a spectacular running catch at the wall.  Ryan Halstead singled home Hernandez before Bosson struck out Watson and Barnes to end the inning.     
 
    In the top of the fifth inning, Bosson struck out Rogina and Dresner before allowing another double to Fields.  But with Galloway up again, Bosson induced a slow roller back to the mound to end the inning.  The Pack went quietly in the bottom of the fifth, and Bosson gave the Pack a huge lift in the top of the sixth inning.  Bosson struck out Brehaut, Hernandez and Halstead, as the Claremont stands went crazy. 

    Claremont used the momentum to create a dramatic bottom of the sixth inning.     David Kessler led off with a walk.  As Ispas attempted to pick off Kessler, he dove back and jammed his right shoulder.  Ryan Troli came in to run as Kessler was forced to leave the game.  Anderson, who had struggled in his first two plate appearances, crushed a double to the left center gap that scored Troli all the way from first base as Claremont took a 3-2 lead.  With Ispas knocked out of the game, Vogel walked, but Anderson attempted a steal of third and was thrown out for the first out.  Sangsland and Gonzalez followed with walks to load the bases, but pinch hitter Jordan Moore struck out for the second out.  Argomaniz flew to center on a full count to end the inning.    

    With all of the momentum on Claremont's side, Bosson struck out Watson for the first out.  Barnes singled for his second hit of the day before Bosson struck out Rogina for the second out.  Dresner walked to put runners at first and second, but Bosson got Fields to ground to French at first, who tossed to Bosson covering to end the game and send the stands into a frenzy.

    The Wolfpack players and family members waited an hour at the field for updates about the Rancho game, only to learn that the Cougars rallied for six runs in the top of the 12th inning to beat Alta Loma and end Claremont's season.    

    Bosson was phenomenal in his final prep game, earning his fifth league victory.  He tossed his fourth complete game, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.  But the Cal Poly Pomona-bound right-hander struck out 15 hitters on the day while walking only one.  He had at least two strikeouts in every inning and was involved in 17 of the 21 outs.    

    Kessler finished the day 1-1 with two walks.  All of the seniors performed well in their final game:  GrosJean played solid in center field, Vogel doubled, scored a run and had two putouts, Sangsland singled, scored a run and made a fine play at third, French drove in his first run of the year and recorded three putouts and two assists, and Bosson pitched his masterpiece.  Cerafice pitched well on Monday.    

    Claremont ends the season at 13-12 overall and 7-8 in league play. 

May 5, 2008

    Claremont's offensive woes continued Monday, as the Wolfpack dropped a 4-2 decision to Los Osos at Los Osos High.

    Claremont looked to be in control early on, but the Pack bats fell asleep, wasting strong pitching performances from starter Anthony Cerafice and reliever Matt Anderson.    

    In the top of the first inning, Manny Argomaniz led off with a walk and advanced to second on Ryan Troli's sacrifice bunt.  Erick Cruz walked to put runners on first and second.  David Kessler laced a single to right field that easily scored Argomaniz and allowed Cruz to take third.  Kessler stole second to put runners on second and third with one out.  Matt Anderson then lined a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Cruz for a 2-0 lead.

    But the Grizzlies put up three in the bottom of the first inning on four hits and an error, and the scored another run in the second inning on a hit, a two-base error and a groundout.  

    From there, it was all downhill for Claremont, as the Wolfpack managed just three more hits the rest of the day.  The big blow was in the thid inning, when the Pack left the bases loaded without scoring a run.
 
    Argomaniz finished 1-2 with a double and scored a run. Troli went 1-3 with a sacrifice; Kessler finished 1-1 with two walks and an RBI and Logan GrosJean went 1-3.

    Phil Gonzalez registered four assists at second base, and Kessler recorded six putouts behind the dish.

    Cerafice suffered the loss despite pitching well.  He allowed four runs (two earned) over 3 2/3 innings, surrendering seven hits while striking out two and walking two (one intentionally).  Anderson pitched well in relief, allowing no runs in 2 1/3 innings on one hit and four strikeouts.    
 

May 1, 2008

Claremont 3, Etiwanda 2 (CHS record: 12-11, 6-7)

    Claremont rallied from a one-run deficit in the fifth inning to beat Etiwanda Thursday, 3-2, and keep its playoff hopes alive heading into the final week of Baseline League play. The Wolfpack swept all three games from Etiwanda this season.

    The Pack again rode the arm of senior ace Kevin Bosson and the timely hitting of senior Logan GrosJean and freshman Manny Argomaniz to complete the series sweep of the Eagles.    

    After Bosson blanked the Eagles in the top of the first inning, highlighted by two solid defensive plays from shortstop Argomaniz and one from senior  third baseman Matt Sangsland, the Pack took the lead in the bottom of the frame. With one out, junior Ryan Troli fought off an 0-2 inside fastball and lined it to right field for a single.  Freshman Erick Cruz ripped a single up the middle to put runners on first and second, and junior David Kessler followed with another single up the middle to score Troli for a 1-0 lead.  Junior Matt Anderson's hard grounder to third forced Kessler at second.  With Cruz at third and Anderson at first, the Pack tried to steal a run with an 0-2 count on senior Greg Vogel.  Anderson left early to draw the run down, but Cruz wandered off third too soon and was picked off at third base.    

    Etiwanda tied the game in the top of the third inning.  With one out, Jake Galloway reached on a throwing error by junior second baseman Phil Gonzalez that allowed Galloway to take second base.  Bosson induced Joey Narez to ground out to Gonzalez for the second out, as Galloway took third.  But Bosson threw a wild pitch that allowed Galloway to score the tying run.  Bosson then surrendered a single to Alex Pena, who stole second base.  All-American Ricky Oropesa was then walked intentionally, and Bosson struck out Mikey Ramirez looking to end the threat.      

    With Claremont failing to score since the first inning, Etiwanda took the lead in the top of the fifth inning.  Johnny Traber led off with a single and was sacrificed to second by Galloway.  Narez singled to score Traber, and catcher Anderson cut off Troli's throw home and threw out Narez at second for the second out.  Pena singled before Bosson retired Oropesa on a long fly ball to left field.
 
    Knowing this was a must-win game, Claremont fought back to put up two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead.  With one out, Gonzalez hit a high pop up that was dropped by the second baseman.  Sophomore Jason Wilcoxson pinch ran for Gonzalez and immediately advanced to second on a passed ball.  GrosJean then hit a high fly ball down the right field line that landed just out of the reach of the diving Christian Bennett to allow Wilcoxson to score and GrosJean to wind up on third base with his first varsity triple.  With the score tied 2-2 and the infield drawn in with one out, Argomaniz hit a line drive sacrifice fly to right field that plated GrosJean and gave the Pack a 3-2 lead; it was Argomaniz' second sacrifice fly in as many games.   

    After a scoreless sixth for both teams, Bosson took the hill in the top of the seventh looking to nail down the win.  He walked Traber to lead off the inning, and Galloway again laid down a nice sacrifice that Bosson made a fine play on for the first out.  Bosson reached back and struck out Zach Priest looking for the second out.  Bennett followed with a high chopper up the middle that Gonzalez charged and made a nice running throw on to end the game and send the Wolfpack faithful into a frenzy.
 
    Bosson (4-2) pitched his third complete game of the season, scattering just four singles and allowing one earned run.  He struck out six, walked two (one intentionally) and hit a batter. 

    Gonzalez recorded three assists and three putouts, including one on a tough catch on an Anderson throw to catch Ryan Hunter stealing.  Anderson had three assists of his own behind the plate, and Argomaniz made three nice plays at short on slow rollers.      

    Argomaniz finished 1-2 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI, and GrosJean went 1-2 with a triple, run and an RBI.  Troli went 1-2, scored a run and had a sacrifice, and David Kessler finished 1-3 with an RBI.  Cruz went 1-3.    
 

April 29, 2008

Claremont 7, Etiwanda 2 (CHS record: 11-11, 5-7)

      Claremont kept its playoff hopes alive with a 7-2 victory over host Etiwanda Tuesday.  The Eagles struck first, scoring two unearned runs on four Wolfpack errors in the third inning, and the game seemed to be going Etiwanda's way with All-American Ricky Oropesa throwing a no-hitter through three innings. 

    But when Oropesa was lifted in the top of the fourth inning, Claremont took advantage against two Eagle pitchers.    

    Matt Anderson led off the fourth inning with a long double to center field.  Greg Vogel popped up to the pitcher for the first out and Anderson advanced to third on a wild pitch. Matt Sangsland walked, and Phil Gonzalez lined the first pitch he saw up the middle to score Anderson.  Ryan Troli then lined a triple to the right-center wall to plate Sangsland and Gonzalez with what would prove to be the game-winning hit.  Manny Argomaniz hit a line drive sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Troli to score as the Wolfpack took a 4-2 lead.  Jordan Moore reached on an error and Erick Cruz ripped a single up the middle to restart the rally.  David Kessler walked to load the bases, and Anderson came through again, lining a single to right field to score Moore and Cruz with the Pack's fifth and sixth runs as Kessler took third.  Anderson stole second, but Vogel gounded out to short to end the inning.
 
    With starter Anthony Cerafice in complete control, Claremont added an insurance run in the sixth inning.  Cruz reached on an infield single, and Kessler scorched a line drive single to left field to put runners at first and second.  Anderson popped up to the catcher for the first out, and Vogel's fly ball to right field allowed Cruz to advance to third base.  Kessler stole second base, and Cruz, who was running on the throw to second, scored easily.  Kessler then alertly swiped third as the pitcher still had the ball and the third baseman was not paying attention, but Sangsland grounded out to short to end the inning.    

    Cerafice (3-1), in throwing his second complete game of the season, tossed a three-hitter and did not allow an earned run.  He fell victim to four errors in the third inning when the Eagles did all of their damage, but he escaped further trouble by striking out the last two hitters he faced.  He finished with eight strikeouts and four walks, and he struck out Oropesa in the first inning and got him to ground out in the sixth inning, as Gonzalez made a nice diving play for the out.
 
    Anderson finished the day 2-3 with a double, run two RBI and a stolen base, and Gonzalez went 2-4, scored a run and drove in another.  Cruz went 2-4 and scored twice, and Troli finished 1-3 with a triple, run and two RBI.  Kessler went 1-2 with two stolen bases, and Argomaniz went 1-3 with an RBI. 

    Anderson registered nine putouts and Gonzalez recorded four assists.  Shane Sumonsavadit, recently promoted from the JV team, recorded his first varsity career putout in centerfield to end the game.    

April 24, 2008

Rancho Cucamonga 10, Claremont 9 (CHS record: 10-11, 4-7)

    Rancho  Cucamonga erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come from behind to beat Claremont, 10-9, Thursday at Rancho Cucamonga High School.

    Claremont jumped out to a 9-0 lead and held a 9-2 advantage over the Cougars entering the bottom of the sixth inning, but the Cougars put eight runs on the board to earn their fourth consecutive Baseline League win.    

    Claremont opened the scoring in the top of the second inning.  With one out, Matt Anderson singled to left field.  Greg Vogel flew out to centerfield for the second out, and Ryan Troli doubled down the right field line to put runners at second and third.  Logan GrosJean walked to load the bases.  Manny Argomaniz then lined a single down the left field line to score Anderson and Troli to make it 2-0.  

    The Wolfpack, which had scored just one run in Tuesday's loss to the Cougars, erupted for five runs in the third inning.  Erick Cruz beat out an infield single.  David Kessler ripped a ball that was nicely fielded by the third baseman to force Cruz at second for the first out.  An errant pickoff attempt by the pitcher allowed Kessler to advance to third with one out.  Sangsland walked and Anderson singled to right field to plate Kessler, and Sangsland came around to score as the ball got by the right fielder, with Anderson advancing to second base.  Vogel promtply launched his first home run of the year, well over the left center fence for a 6-0 Claremont lead.  Troli hit a soft linout to second base for the second out before GrosJean walked and Argomaniz beat out an infield single.  Moore walked to load the bases, and Cruz hit a ball in the hole between third and short for another infield single and a 7-0 lead.  Kessler's ground ball forced Cruz at second to end the inning.      

    The Pack scored two more runs in the fourth inning.  With one out, Anderson crushed a double to left-center.  Vogel followed with a double to right center to plate Anderson for an 8-0 lead.  Troli beat out an infield single to put runners at first and third, and GrosJean ripped a line drive to left for a sac fly that scored Anderson.  Argomaniz grounded out to third to end the inning as the pack held a 9-0 lead.    

    Starter Kevin Bosson cruised through the first three innings, but ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning.  He allowed two unearned runs on three hits and two errors, snapping his consecutive scoreless innings streak at 20 2/3 innings.

    But the real trouble came in the sixth inning.  Bosson struck out the first hitter he faced, but the ball got away from Anderson and the runner reached first.  Rancho responded with back-to-back singles to push across its third run before Bosson struck out the next batter for the first out.  A walk loaded the bases and another single made the score 9-4.  Rancho's Danny McNabb then lined a bases-clearing double down the left field line, and that was all for Bosson.

    Phil Gonzalez came on in relief with a runner on second and one out.  He struck out the first batter he faced, Jim Page, but Mike Page singled to score McNabb.  The ball got under Jason Wilcoxson's glove in center field, allowing Page to end up at third base.  Noble doubled to tied the game, and Austin Reed was intentionally walked to set up the force.  But Gonzalez walked the next two hitters to force across the go ahead run before striking out Zamarripa for the final out.    

    Claremont had a chance to tie the game in the top of the inning, as Argomaniz hit a one-out single.  But Moore's hard ground ball up the middle was converted into a game-ending double play. 

    Anderson finished the day 3-4 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI--his only out was a line drive to deep center that was caught at the wall.  Argomaniz went 3-5 with two RBI and a stolen base.  Vogel finished 2-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and three RBI, while Cruz and Moore each went 2-4; Cruz had an RBI.  Troli also went 2-4 with a double and scored a run, and GrosJean walked twice, scored a run and had an RBI sacrifice fly in his three plate appearances.    

    Bosson pitched another solid game, surrendering eight runs (four earned) on 10 hits.  He struck out five and walked one, and  did his best to overcome five errors by his teammates.  His scoreless inning streak of 20 2/3 innings, which includes back-to-back complete game shutouts over Etiwanda and Upland, is believed to be a school record. 

    David Kessler threw out a runner at home from right field, the second time he has done that this season.

April 22, 2008

Rancho Cucamonga 10, Claremont 1 (CHS record: 10-10, 4-6)

    Claremont's season-long Jekyl and Hyde act continued Tuesday, as the Wolfpack dropped a 10-1 decision to Rancho Cucamonga at the Wolf Den. 

    While Claremont banged out eight hits, its pitching, defense and hitting with runners in scoring position all faltered.    

    Claremont put a runner on base in every inning though the sixth inning, but could only manage a single run in the fifth after the Cougars had taken a 7-0 lead.  Pinch hitter Jordan Moore led off by smacking an opposite-field ground rule double, and Manny Argomaniz followed with a double to the left-center gap to plate Moore.  After Ryan Troli grounded out to short for the first out, Erick Cruz reached first on an error by the pitcher and Argomaniz took third.  But with a full count on David Kessler, the clean-up hitter struck out and Cruz, who was running on the pitch, was thrown out at second for an inning-ending double play.    

    Matt Anderson finished 2-3 on the afternoon, and he picked off a runner at first and threw out another at second as catcher.  Troli, Cruz, Kessler and Sangsland all had 1-3 outings; Kessler had a double.  Anthony Cerafice suffered the loss for the Pack, and Kent Noyes worked out of a jam in the fifth inning.  Argomaniz, in his first appearance of the year on the mound, struck out two and allowed no runs in one inning.
 
    Claremont (10-10, 4-6) retains a share of third place as it travels to Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday for another key Baseline League showdown.  Game time is at 3:15.  Rancho Cucamonga has won three league games in a row. 

April 17, 2008

Claremont 7, Upland 0 (CHS record: 10-9, 4-5)

    Claremont senior pitcher Kevin Bosson pitched a no-hitter Thursday against Baseline League-leading Upland, shutting out the powerful Highlander offense in a 7-0 Wolfpack victory at the Wolf Den.

    Bosson hurled his second consecutive complete game shutout, tossing the first no-hitter of his career. He struck out eight and allowed just one walk, needing just 92 pitches in the victory, which came two weeks after he pitched all eight innings in Claremont's 1-0 win over Etiwanda.

    The Pack victory avenged back-to-back one run losses, the most recent being a 2-1 nine inning affair on Tuesday to league rival Upland. The third meeting of the year between the two teams proved to be the charm for the Pack, which also rode the bat of Matt Anderson to hand the first-place Highlanders their first Baseline League loss of the season.    

     Bosson received all of the offense he would need in the bottom of the first inning.  With one out, Ryan Troli walked and Erick Cruz beat out an infield single.  David Kessler's rope to center was misplayed for a single, loading the bases.  Matt Sangsland hit a line drive over the second baseman's head for an RBI single, and Anderson's line-drive sacrifice fly to center scored Cruz for the second run.  Jordan Moore walked to reload the bases, but Phil Gonzalez popped up to second to end the inning.    

    After struggling offensively of late, the Wolfpack erupted to put four runs on the board in the second inning.  Logan GrosJean grounded out to shortstop for the first out, and Manny Argomaniz then lined a double in the left-centerfield gap.  With Argomaniz running on the pitch, Troli hit a ground ball to second base.  As the second baseman looked to hold Argomaniz at third, Troli crossed first base ahead of the throw to put runners at the corners.  Cruz struck out for the second out before Kessler and Sangsland drew back-to-back walks, the latter plating Argomaniz for a 3-0 lead.  Anderson followed with a single that scored Troli and Kessler, and Moore's single up the middle allowed Sangsland to score as the Pack took a commanding 6-0 lead.
 
    After Claremont was retired in order in the third, the Wolfpack came back with one more run in the fourth inning.  Cruz reached first on an error by the shortstop but was thrown out stealing for the first out.  Kessler crushed another ball to center field that was caught for the second out, and Sangsland walked and stole second base.  Anderson came through again, knocking a single that plated Sangsland for a 7-0 lead.  Anderson stole second before Moore was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second, and Anderson stole third to place runners at the corners.  Gonzalez worked a 2-2 count before fouling off several pitches and ball three before finally grounding out to short for the final out.    

    Anderson finished 2-2 with 4 RBI and 2 stolen bases, while Sangsland went 1-2 with two walks, two runs, two RBI and a stolen base.  Troli scored two runs, and Jordan Moore reached base all three times, as he singled, walked and was hit by a pitch.  Jason Wilcoxson had a pinch-hit double in the left-center field gap. 

    Gonzalez made a nice sliding play up the middle on a ground ball in the first inning, and Argomaniz made two nice plays at short in the middle innings to keep the no-hitter alive.  Ryan Troli made two nice running catches in left field, and Wilcoxson caught a sinking pop-fly in centerfield in the sixth inning to preserve the no hitter.  Kyle Jackson fielded and threw out the final out of the game on a slow roller to second base, as the team mobbed Bosson.    

    Bosson retired the first hitter in each inning and had either an 0-1 or 1-2 count on 18 of the 24 hitters he faced--three over the minimum.  In addition to a walk, there were two errors behind him.  Bosson retired the last 11 hitters he faced.    

April 15, 2008

Upland 2, Claremont 1 (CHS record: 9-9, 3-5)

    Claremont suffered another heart-breaking loss to Baseline League rival Upland, this time dropping a tight 2-1 decision in the bottom of the ninth inning on Tuesday at Memorial Park in Upland. 

    The Wolfpack received an outstanding pitching performance from Anthony Cerafice in his first league start of the year, and Phil Gonzalez provided some quality relief innings.  In the end, though, Claremont's four singles and inability to hit in the clutch proved costly.    

    With the pitchers' duel underway between Cerafice and Upland's Kris Butler, the Wolfpack drew first blood in the top of the third inning.  Logan GrosJean led off with a single up the middle, and Manny Argomaniz executed a beautiful sacrifice bunt to move GrosJean to second base.  Matt Sangsland flew out to center for the second out, and GrosJean advanced to third on a wild pitch with designated hitter Erick Cruz at the plate.  Cruz then hit a hard grounder that was mishandled by the shortstop, as GrosJean scored for a 1-0 lead.      

    But the Highlanders, undefeated in league play, put up a run in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game.  With two outs, Cerafice hit Butler and then surrendered a run-scoring double before inducing a fly ball to David Kessler in right field for the final out. 

    Claremont had its best chance to break the game open in the top of the fifth inning, as GrosJean led off with a walk.  Argomaniz drilled a line drive to left field that was caught, and Sangsland flew out to left for the second out.  Cruz and Kessler followed with walks to load the bases, but Matt Anderson popped up to third to end the inning.  From there, Claremont's offense was non-existent, as the Pack was retired in order over the next four innings.    

    Meanwhile, reliever Phil Gonzalez worked into and out of trouble, pitching out of trouble with two runners on in the sixth and escaping a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh.  After a quiet eighth inning, Gonzalez surrendered a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth that took a bad hop and got by right fielder Kessler.  With the winning run on third and the outfield and infield playing in, Gonzalez struck out the next hitter before allowing the game winning hit to Ryan Escoto.
 
    In addition to GrosJean's single, Gonzalez and Rivera added singles, and Cruz reached base three times, two via errors, and stole a base. 

    Cerafice allowed one run through five innings, walking two, hitting two batters and allowing just two hits.  Gonzalez suffered the loss, pitching 3 1/3 innings, striking out four, walking four and hitting two batters.  He allowed two singles, and the run he allowed was unearned.

    Sangsland was brilliant on defense, registering six assists, including a bases-loaded groundball with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. 

April 12, 2008

Hemet 2, Claremont 1 (Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament -- CHS record: 9-8, 3-4)

    Claremont concluded a rough showing in the Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament on Saturday with a 2-1 loss to Hemet. 

    The Pack wasted a strong pitching performance from starter Matt Anderson and reliever Phil Gonzalez and sabotaged its own offensive rallies with nine fly ball outs on the day.    

    After a scoreless three innings, Hemet scored its only two runs of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on two walks, two hits, an error and a sacrifice fly. 

    Claremont had its chances but was only able to put a run on the board in the sixth inning.  With one out, Erick Cruz singled, and David Kessler flew out to right field for the second out.  Jason Wilcoxson hit a grounder to third, but the throw sailed past the first baseman and down the right field line, allowing Cruz to score just ahead of the throw home.    

    Greg Vogel led the offense for the Wolfpack, going 2-3.  Jordan Moore went 1-3 with two stolen bases, and Anderson went 1-2 with a stolen base, as the Pack managed just five hits on the afternoon. 

    Anderson (1-2) allowed both runs, though just one was earned, on four hits and five walks through four innings.  Gonzalez tossed two innings, allowing just a double, while walking one and striking out two.    

April 11, 2008

Claremont 7, Jurupa Valley 0 (Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament -- CHS record: 9-7, 3-4)

    Claremont senior pitcher Anthony Cerafice gave a much-needed boost to the Wolfpack on Friday afternoon, hurling a complete game, one-hit shutout to beat the Jurupa Valley Jaguars, 7-0, Friday in the third round of the Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament at Santiago High School in Corona.

     Utilizing the momentum created by Cerafice, Claremont's offense scored all of the runs it would need in the top of the first inning.   

    With two out, Erick Cruz walked and David Kessler crushed the first pitch he saw to the left-center fence, scoring the hustling Cruz from first base.  Greg Vogel dumped a singled into right center to plate Kessler for a 2-0 lead, and Woody Cash got his first varsity hit with a hard hit grounder between third and short.      

    Cerafice retired the Jaguars in order in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a Kyle Jackson-Manny Argomaniz-Erick Cruz all-freshman, inning-ending double play.

    The Pack struck again in its next at-bat.  With one out, Jackson ripped a double down the left field line for his first varsity hit.  Manny Argomaniz grounded out and Jordan Moore grounded a single up the middle to score Jackson.  Cruz then crushed a ball to deep center field for a run-scroing triple, as Moore crossed home for a 4-0 lead.     

    Cerafice tossed two more three-up, three-down innings, and Claremont put the game away in the top of the fourth inning.  With one out, Moore walked and stole second base.  Cruz was hit by a pitch, and Kessler was intentionally walked to load the bases.  Vogel popped up to short for the second out.  Cash lined a two-out double down the left field line, clearing the bases, and giving the Pack a resounding 7-0 lead. 

    Cerafice (2-0) surrendered a single to the second batter he faced, and the only other runners to reach base came on an error in the fourth and an error in the seventh.  He did not allow a baserunner to reach second base, thanks in part to two double plays--the first ended the opening inning, and Jackson fielded a ground ball, stepped on second and fired to first base for a game-ending double play.  Cerafice needed only 78 pitches for the complete game, registering six 1-2-3 innings and facing 22 batters, just one over the minimum.  He began 17 of the 22 hitters he faced with either an 0-1 or 1-2 count.  He struck out two batters and did not issue a walk.
 
    Moore finished the day 2-4, scored two runs, had an and a stolen base. Cash went 2-4 with three RBI.  Cruz went 1-3, including a triple, two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases, while Kessler went 1-2, with a double, two walks two runs scored, an RBI and his team-leading 11th stolen base. 

April 10, 2008

Elsinore 7, Claremont 5 (Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament -- CHS record: 8-7, 3-4)

    A day after enduring its worse loss of the season, Claremont bounced back with a solid game Thursday, but it still was not enough as th Wolfpack fell to Elsinore, 7-5, in the second round of the Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament at Santiago High School in Corona.

    With the Pack up 5-2 entering the sixth inning, the Tigers rallied for five runs to turn the tables on Claremont.    

    Sophomore Dylan Betancourt, brought up from the JV squad for the tournament, allowed an unearned run in the first inning, but the Wolfpack answered in the bottom of the opening frame.  Manny Argomaniz singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Matt Sangsland grounded out to third for the first out.  Erick Cruz then belted his team-leading sixth double into the left field corner to easily score Argomaniz and tie the game.  David Kessler hit a shallow fly ball in foul right field territory for the second out, and Cruz tagged up and alertly advanced to third on the play.  Cruz's hustle was rewarded when the second pitch to Matt Anderson rolled away from the catcher, allowing Cruz to slide in head first, narrowly beating the tag.  Anderson singled, but Gonzalez popped up to first base to end the inning.

    The Tigers tied the game in the top of the second inning on a walk, stolen base and base hit, but Claremont regained the lead in the bottom of the third inning.  Argomaniz reached on an error and advanced to second on Sangsland's single.  Cruz popped up for the first out before Kessler hammered a pitch well over the left-center fence for his team-leading third home run. But that was all the Pack would score as the Tigers took advantage of four walks and two hits in the sixth to push across five runs.    

    Greg Vogel went 2-3 with a double, while Sangsland was 1-2 and scored a run and Argomaniz went 1-3 and scored twice.  Anderson had a hit and a stolen base while registering seven putouts, and Jake Rangel threw out a runner trying to steal third base.  Betancourt left with the lead and pitched well, but he was unable to earn his first varsity win.  He allowed just two singles and one earned run through four innings, striking out six and walking four.    

    Claremont (8-7) returns to action on Friday, April 11, taking on Jurupa Valley at 10 a.m. at Santiago High School.    

April 9, 2008

Norte Vista 17, Claremont 2 (Darryl Kile Memorial Tournament -- CHS record: 8-6, 3-4)

    The opening play of the day resulted in an error, and things turned ugly in a hurry, as the Wolfpack surrendered four runs in the first, four in the second, six in the third and three in the fourth in a game called after five innings because of the mercy rule.  Norte Vista used a 16-hit attack-- including 14 singles -- most finding the holes in the Claremont infield.    

    Trailing 4-0 in the top of the second inning, Greg Vogel worked a two-out walk and Phil Gonzalez smacked a double into the right field corner, plating Vogel.  Logan GrosJean followed with a line-drive to left field that was caught to end the inning.  The 4-1 score is as close as Claremont would get.    

    Freshman shortstop Manny Argomaniz continued his excellence, going 1-2 with a walk, while also making two very nice defensive plays in the first inning, or the damage could have been much worse.  Juniors David Kessler and Matt Anderson added singles, and freshman Erick Cruz walked all three times to round out the offense.  Freshman Kyle Jackson, in his first varsity plate appearance, was hit by a pitch, and sophomore third baseman Trent Woodward registered an assist on the first ball hit to him at the varsity level.