SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Baseball

Spartans roll lucky 12 in win streak

By Phillip Brents
Posted April 20, 2004

While the second-ranked Montgomery Aztecs were busying themselves with winning the 54th annual Lions tournament Classic Division titles, an equally significant event was taking place 320 miles to the east.

The Chula Vista Spartans won the Las Vegas-Durango Invitational in Nevada.

“Two Metro teams each won tournament titles in the same week,” Chula Vista coach Jim Westlund said with an air of obvious pride.

The best may be yet to come.

The Spartans extended their consecutive winning streak to 12 games following their 5-4 victory against Sweetwater on April 15. Bowe Fertig went 2-for-2 in the game while Alberto Felix (4-1) earned the victory on the mound with relief help from Fertig.

The Spartans (13-4) went 5-0 in the Metro Conference tournament, played March 23 to April 3, defeating Mar Vista, Hilltop, Castle Park, Southwest and Marian Catholic. However, Montgomery advanced to the championship game against Castle Park by virtue of run-differential.

Overall, Mesa League teams compiled a cumulative 14-1 record against their South Bay League foes — a statistic that prompted Westlund to declare that this was the strongest league, from top to bottom, in the 10 or so years he had been the Spartans coach.

“I think any team has a chance to win the Mesa League this year,” Westlund said.
Chula Vista obviously was not finished.

The Spartans finished 4-0 in the Las Vegas tournament, topping Los Angeles Narbonne, 10-8, in the championship game behind winning pitcher Anthony Lattin. Carlos Santamaria (two-run double), Roderick McPeak (two RBI), Jimmy Clark III (three hits) and Travis Crawford (two hits) helped spark the offense. Chula Vista erupted with eight runs in the first inning to make up a 3-0 deficit on the scoreboard.

“It’s our football players who have helped get us going,” Westlund said, adding a grin.

The Spartans’ streak started with a victory against El Cajon Valley in the Hilltop-Lolitas tournament on March 19. Heading into Tuesday’s game against Eastlake, Chula Vista had won 13 of 14 games overall.

The Spartans host Castle Park Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and Bonita Vista Tuesday at 3 p.m. before traveling to Sweetwater for a Thursday game at 3 p.m.

“This is one of the best starts in while — it’s the longest winning streak I’ve had since I’ve been coaching here,” Westlund said.