Games of the day: May 15
May 15th, 2008, 12:48 am · Post a Comment · posted by TODD HARMONSON, OCREGISTER.COM
There are several good matchups in the baseball playoffs, but here are two games that really stand out:
BASEBALL
Aliso Niguel at El Modena, 3:15 p.m.
Outlook: This Division I first-round game features the No. 3 team from the South Coast League, Aliso Niguel (18-9) against El Modena (14-12), the Century League’s No. 1. El Modena tied Canyon for the Century championship, but was designated the league’s No. 1 playoff representative because the Vanguards had beaten Canyon in two of their three league games. El Modena is led by Wes Calvert, who is batting .373 and is 5-2 on the mound, and Jordan Foreman, who is hitting .370. Aliso Niguel, the South Coast League’s No. 3, goes into the playoffs with a three-game losing streak, including two losses to Capistrano Valley last week, the final week of the regular season. Aliso’s Zach Luther, son of former San Diego Chargers quarterback Ed Luther, is batting .447 with 21 RBIs. The Wolverines’ Jordan Helmkamp is 6-3 with a 2.23 ERA. The winner of this game plays the winner of J.W. North of Riverside-Orange Lutheran on Tuesday in the second round. – Steve Fryer
University at La Quinta, 3:15 p.m.
Outlook: In a Division III first-round game, University (13-10) tries to shake off its two Pacific Coast League losses last week to Laguna Hills while La Quinta (19-7) tries to keep the momentum going from a five-game winning streak. La Quinta is the No. 1 team from the Garden Grove League. The Aztecs won their state-record 16th consecutive league championship. Kyle Cardoza leads La Quinta with a .382 batting average. Taylor Wilson has 29 RBIs, and pitcher Michael Hill is 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 56 2/3 innings. University has a strong batting order, led by Thomas Solowynsky. University is the No. 2 team from the Pacific Coast League. The winner of this game plays the winner of California-Cajon in the second round Tuesday. — Steve Fryer
