By JESSE HALEY Special to the Daily Press
Santa Monica High School’s division one baseball team will compete in postseason play despite their last two losses.
Samohi’s Vikings began the third week in the Bay League with an 8-3-1 record, two games ahead of fourth-place West Torrance.
Only the top three teams from each league advance to post season. With a regular season tie and a loss to West Torrance, the Vikings needed a win in their last two games to clinch a playoff spot.
In the way were defending Bay League champs, first-place Peninsula High.
At Palos Verdes last Thursday, Peninsula led 3-0 going into the fifth inning when the Vikings rallied for five runs. In the top of the sixth, a controversial call on a pop fly caught at the first base dugout allowed one Panther run. With one out in the seventh, third baseman Kyle Degener’s solo homer off Viking pitcher Sonny Redondo tied the game 5-5.
Reliever Jake Glick held the Panthers scoreless into the tenth when closer Danny Casanova, took the mound for Samohi. Casanova threw one pitch to Kyle Degener for his second homer of the game and the Peninsula victory.
At Santa Monica last Tuesday, the Vikings took a one-run lead in the first inning when James Cooper hit a looping RBI single into shallow left. But Panthers’ All-League pitcher Andy Beal wouldn’t give up another run. In the top of the fifth, with runners on first and second, Panther catcher Brett Mendoza ripped a double for two RBIs, a 2-1 lead, and the game.
West Torrance beat Torrance high Tuesday, but lost Thursday, dropping one game back and out of playoff contention.
Samohi finishes the regular season 8-5- 1 — third in the Bay League behind Maricosta and Peninsula High.
Playoff schedules are yet to be posted, but Samohi will either play Tuesday, or Saturday.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 13, 2002. Read the original PDF.