BULLDOGS FEEL LEFT ON LEASH HIGHLAND SHOCKED AT HAVING TO PLAY WILD-CARD GAME.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer Usually, the biggest upset of the high school baseball playoffs involves an actual game, perhaps a top seed losing in the first round. Not this year. In what amounts to a major slap in the face, Highland (19-6) was passed over by the Southern Section seeding committee and now must win a wild-card matchup today to advance to Friday's Division I first round. Highland, which will play host to Channel Islands (13-11-1) at 3:15 p.m., had every reason to believe it would have a first-round home game. The Bulldogs, who finished second in the Golden League, have won 10 of their last 11, including the championship of the prestigious 40-team Bishop Gorman tournament in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. . Teams' recent performances are supposed to be an important criteria for playoff seeding, but apparently not in this case. Plus, the Bulldogs have three major-league draft prospects - pitcher Matt Parris, outfielder Jason Kubel Jason James "the Future" Kubel (born May 25, 1982 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota) is a professional baseball player who plays in the outfield for the Minnesota Twins. He bats left and throws right. and first baseman John Santor - so it's not as if people don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. who this team is. A year ago, Highland had a similar regular-season record - they were 20-5 - and earned a first-round home game, which they won before nearlybeating eventual champion Arlington in the second round. This season, Highland is one of only two teams to finish second in its league and have to play a wild-card game (the other eight finished third), and if the Bulldogs beat Channel Islands, they must travel Friday to fourth-seeded Lakewood, annually one of California's strongest programs. ``I don't think this is fair,'' Kubel said. ``I'm surprised because I was pretty sure we wouldn't have to play until Friday. We have a pretty good record, but this is just the way it worked out.'' Coach Mike Van Cheri was shocked. ``I can't believe this,'' he said. ``There's no way I thought this would happen. I really didn't expect it. I wish I knew how this could have happened. I guess you'll have to ask the CIF (1) (Common Intermediate Format) A standard video format used in videoconferencing. CIF formats are defined by their resolution, and standards both above and below the original resolution have been established. The original CIF is also known as Full CIF (FCIF). .'' Channel Islands isn't crazy about playing Highland, either. ``How the heck did this happen?'' coach Alfred Tarazon said. ``They came in second? Well, this should be a good challenge for us. I think I've read about some of their guys.'' Channel Islands, which finished third in the relatively weak Pacific View League, has been experimenting with seven starting pitchers this season. Tarazon said either Joe Walsh
Dr. Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh[] (born November 20, 1947)[1] is an American guitarist and rock musician. (5-2), Brian Long (2-4) or Eric Rodriguez Eric Rodriguez is Filipino basketball player. He was a former player of the Letran Knights and currently plays for the Toyota Balintawak Roadkings (formerly known as Toyota Otis-Letran) in the Philippine Basketball League. (2-0) will start today. Highland's Parris is 8-2 - both losses were one-run decisions against Palmdale's undefeated Matt Harrington Matt Harrington (born February 1, 1982) is a baseball player who holds the record for the most times being chosen in the Major League Baseball amateur draft. Between 2000 and 2004, Harrington, a top prospect coming out of high school, was chosen in all five drafts, but never signed , the nation's top-ranked high school right-hander - with a 1.96 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 64 innings. Left-hander Tommy Gonzales (6-2, 3.80 ERA) might start today so Parris can go against Lakewood. (Pitchers are limited to 10 innings per week.) Kubel is batting .500 with 14 home runs - seven over the last four games - and 42 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in in 74 at-bats. He has a .624 on-base average and a 1.203 slugging percentage In baseball statistics, slugging percentage (abbreviated SLG) is the most popular measure of the power of a hitter. It is calculated as total bases divided by at bats: . He's also a top relief pitcher relief pitcher n. Baseball A pitcher who replaces another during a game. Noun 1. relief pitcher - a pitcher who does not start the game fireman, reliever with a 1-1 record, three saves, a 1.58 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 17 innings. Santor is hitting .479 with 11 home runs - 31 in his career, third all-time in the region - with 43 RBI, a .598 on-base average and a 1.082 slugging percentage. Catcher Dan Champieux, who missed five early games with a knee injury, is batting .383 with seven home runs and 23 RBI in 60 at-bats. --Palmdale hosts: In the Division II playoffs Friday, Palmdale hosts Sultana, and Lancaster travels to second-seeded Hart of Newhall. In Division V, third-seeded Desert Christian hosts the Kern Valley-Aquinas wild-card winner. Paraclete travels to Milken of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , and Vasquez travels to Capistrano Valley Christian. Division VI Boron boron (bōr`ŏn) [New Gr. from borax], chemical element; symbol B; at. no. 5; at. wt. 10.81; m.p. about 2,300°C;; sublimation point about 2,550°C;; sp. gr. 2.3 at 25°C;; valence +3. travels to Owens Valley of Independence. SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS First Round Friday, 3:15 p.m. Division II Sultana (Mojave River No. 2) at Palmdale (Golden League No. 1) Lancaster (Golden League No. 3) at Hart (Foothill League No. 1) Division V Paraclete (Alpha League No. 2) at Milken (Valley League No. 1) Vasquez (High Desert No. 2) at Capistrano Valley Christian (Academy No. 1) Division V Boron (Desert Mountain No. 3) at Owens Valley (Hi-Lo No. 1) Wild-card round Today, 3:15 p.m. Channel Islands (Pacific View No. 3) at Highland (Golden League No. 2) CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Left-hander Tommy Gonzales (6-2, 3.80 ERA) might get the starting nod today for Highland in their game against Channel Islands. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: Southern Section Baseball Playoffs (see text) |
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