Baseball:
In each of the three Rio Hondo League showdowns between first-place Monrovia and second-place La Canada, the games were settled by one run.
And Friday’s season finale between the Wildcats and Spartans was no different.
This time, though, La Canada was on the other end after a pair of one-run losses to Monrovia.
LCHS saw MHS take a 4-1 lead in the top of the 10th inning and responded with four runs of their own to claim a 5-4 victory.
Nathan Mertens went the first seven innings for La Canada and allowed an unearned run on eight hits.
Mertens walked one and struck out eight.
Adam Geller was credited with the win, despite allowing three runs in the top of the 10th inning.
In all, Geller went three innings, surrendered two hits, walked two and struck out five Monrovia batters.
Matthew Delgado singled twice and drove in a pair of runs.
Chantz Powers singled, doubled, scored and had an RBI.
Nathan Thompson singled and scored.
Shane Petersen went 2-for-4 and scored twice and Coleman Mitchell tripled for the Wildcats.
Luke Chiovare had an RBI.
Chantz Powers went seven strong innings for Monrovia, allowing one run on six hits.
Powers walked one and fanned eight LCHS batters.
Steven Escarcega would suffer the loss.
Escarcega surrendered four unearned runs on one hit and a walk.
Escarcega struck out three in his 2 2/3 innings.
Timmy Park singled, doubled and drove in two runs for the Spartans.
Chris Nava went 2-for-4, with an RBI.
Alex Higa singled and scored.
Ryan Kiessling singled, doubled and scored.
La Canada snapped Monrovia’s 13 game win streak, but the Wildcats hold a two-game lead with two to play.
Box Score:
MHS: 1-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-3-(4)
LC: 0-0-0-0-1-0-0-0-0-4-(5)
Win: Adam Geiler
Loss: Steven Escarcega
3B: Coleman Mitchell (M)
2B: Chantz Powers (M), Timmy Park (LC), Ryan Kiessling (LC)
Rio Hondo League Standings Through May 20:
Monrovia (17-3 overall, 9-1 in league)
La Canada (12-4, 7-3)
South Pasadena (9-9, 5-5)
Temple City (5-7, 5-5)
San Marino (1-15, 0-12)
Final Week Schedule:
5/25: Temple City at Monrovia
5/25: South Pasadena at La Canada
5/28: Monrovia at Temple City
5/28: La Canada at South Pasadena