By Pete Borello

Spring Sports Summary

Boys Tennis

Los Altos improved to 4-1 in the SCVAL De Anza Division by beating host Palo Alto 5-2 Thursday. The Eagles posted three wins in singles, including No. 1 player Jon Wong’s 7-5, 6-2 victory over Michael Tseng.

That same day, Mountain View High dropped a 4-3 decision to host Los Gatos in an El Camino Division match. The Spartans (2-1) won two doubles matches, including brothers Derrick and Eric Elder’s victory at No. 1.

In non-league action Thursday, Pinewood fell 5-2 to visiting University. Jason Carpenter won 6-5. 6-7, 7-5 at No. 1 singles for the Panthers.

St. Francis ran its record to 6-0 March 7 by thumping host Monterey 7-0. All the Lancers wins came in straight sets and No. 1 player Ngon Huynh cruised to a 6-2, 6-0 triumph.

Swimming & Diving

The Mountain View boys and girls teams both dominated host Santa Clara last Friday, winning every event.

The boys (1-1) prevailed 118-36 behind seniors Mike Tkalevic and Brian Rees and sophomores Mike Kasper and Chris Malatesta. The foursome teamed up to win the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays and all their individual events.

The girls (2-0) won 146-31, thanks to strong efforts from sophomores Kelly Blakemore and Laurie Gregg and freshmen Brook Bishop and Jessica Howard-Anderson. Spartans coach Ben Murray said the highlight of the meet was when Blakemore and Gregg squared off in the 200 individual medley. Despite a late surge by Gregg, Blakemore hung on to win by less than a second.

Track & Field

Los Altos opened its De Anza Division season with a split at Palo Alto last Thursday

The Los Altos boys won 80-38 and the girls lost 87-39.

Winners on the boys side for Los Altos included Aaron Kaye (mile and two-mile runs), Shane Christine (200- and 400-meter runs), Royce Hurd (100 dash and long jump), Dawen Tsien (110 high hurdles) and Daniel Cheng (800 run).

For the girls, Laura Perry (mile and 800) and Becca Burnham (triple jump) posted wins.

The St. Francis boys routed visiting Sacred Heart Cathedral 101-26 March 7. The Lancers won all but four events of the West Catholic Athletic League opener. St. Francis was led by Joey Fernandez, who captured the long jump and high jump.

Badminton

With only eight girls, Mountain View has to concede two spots every time it takes the court. But that hasn’t stopped the Spartans from winning.

Mountain View captured its El Camino Division opener 34-27 over visiting Saratoga Thursday, upping its record to 5-1.

“I think we’re doing extremely well considering the circumstances,” coach Kelly Kuboyama said. “I issued a challenge to the boys at the start of the season that they would have to carry the team, and they have so far.”

The boys swept Saratoga, with Brian Xie winning at No. 1 singles and Tri Tang and Anh Vo prevailing at No. 1 doubles.

Softball

A seventh-inning run doomed Los Altos in a 3-2 home loss to Valley Christian Thursday. Kristin Herrera had two hits for the Eagles (4-2 overall).

Golf

Wes Battle turned in his best pitching performance of the season last Thursday as the Los Altos High baseball team beat host Palo Alto 3-1 in extra innings.

Battle struck out eight batters, walked one and yielded just three hits in the SCVAL El Camino Division contest.

“Wes pitched a heck of a game,” Eagles coach Sandy Wihtol said. “It’s the second game in a row he’s pitched outstanding.”

But the previous effort from Battle (2-2) was for naught, as Los Altos lost on some ill-timed errors. This time, Battle and the Eagles benefited from an error.

With the game tied at 1, Los Altos loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning. Palo Alto pitcher Colby Henard then got the next two batters out. Thomas Roux appeared to be out No. 3 with a grounder to first base, but Henard, covering the bag, bobbled the throw and Kevin Buurma scored what would be the game-winning run.

The Eagles (1-1, 2-6) added an insurance run when Henard walked Cam Matthews, which forced Brian Johnson home.

Los Altos scored its initial run on a solo home run by Raul Ontiveros in the first inning.

Despite sophomore Ben Choe’s match-high 38, Mountain View fell 219-225 to Homestead March 7 at Shoreline Golf Links.

The loss dropped the Spartans to 0-2 in the SCVAL De Anza Division, while the Mustangs improved to 2-0.