El Camino Real was rated as the # 2 team in the City Section behind Chatsworth, so it was expected Hart would have it's hands full on this one. However, Hart came out firing although they didn't score until the 3rd inning.

Jordan Brandt started for El Camino. A single by Shane Carlson was erased by a double play in the 1st. A double by Pat Sarkissian and a single by Brian Charnock was wasted in the 2nd when 2 men struck out. In the 3rd, Kevin Baker singled to left and was sacrificed to 2nd. Shane Carlson walked. Ryan Gagnon singled up the middle scoring Baker. Pat Sarkissian hit a homer down the line to left into Platt Boulevard for a 3 run homer giving Hart a 4-0 lead.

Hart scored 3 more in the 4th. Brian Charnock singled to third, took 2nd on a sacrifice by Ryan Pettersen. Matt Valaika doubled off the left field wall scoring Charnock. Shane Carlson singled to center, scoring Valaika easily but the throw to the plate was over the catchers head sending Carlson to 2nd. Ryan Gagnon singled down the left field line scoring Carlson, but Gagnon was out trying to stretch the single into a double. Hart now led 7-0.

Hart picked up 2 more runs in the 6th. Brian Charnock opened with a booming triple over the centerfielders head. He immediately scored when the relief pitcher Garrett Claypool tried to pick him off and tossed the ball down the left field line. 2 easy infield outs later, Valaika singled to left, Carlson and Gagnon singled to center scoring Valaika. In the 7th after Matt Sreden singled, Chris Manent made his varsity debut with a fly out to left. After 2 out Ryan Pettersen singled to center but the 2 runners were stranded.

Tyler Fick started for Hart and pitched a 3 hitter, with 7 strikeouts, 2 walks giving up 1 run (a homer). He went into the 4th inning having given up only a squib infield single toward 3rd. In the 3rd the squibber was followed by 2 walks, but he ended the inning with 2 strikeouts. In the 4th Ryan Lavarnway belted a homer over the right field wall into Burbank Boulevard making the score 7-1. After striking out J.P. Hollywood, he hit a batter, then got 2 easy fly outs. Fick gave up an infield single opening up the 5th, then struck out the next 3 batters. After a batter reached on a throwing error in the 6th, Fick got 3 straight infield popups.

In the bottom of the 7th, leading 9-1, Hart relieved Fick and brought in Freshman Jason Rehhaut making his varsity debut. Rehhaut had trouble with his first 2 pitches, but eventually got the count to 3-2 and then got a nice bouncer to short. He made quick work of the next two batters getting easy groundouts to short and second to finish up the victory for Hart 9-1.

Hart had 17 hits and now as a team is hitting .348 in the first 4 games of the season. Brian Charnock who has only played in the last 2 games went 3 for 3 with a triple scoring 2 runs and is now 5 for 6 (.833) on the season. Shane Carlson who also went 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored, 1 RBI has been "on fire" in all 4 games. He is now 8 for 12 (.667). Pat Sarkissian was 2 for 4 with a homer and double and 3 big RBI's. Ryan Gagnon was 3 for 4 with 3 RBI's. Matt Valaika was 2 for 3 with a double, 1 RBI. Matt Sreden was 2 for 4.

Hart next plays in the Easton Southern California Showdown Championship at UCLA's Jackie Robinson Stadium in Westwood against Chatsworth Saturday March 12 at 1:00pm.

Narrative courtesy of Mike Gaber.