Fast Start Lifts Hart Into 4-A Final : Indians Score Eight Runs in First Inning En Route to 14-0 Win

Bud Murray admits that he had an inkling during the early innings of Hart High’s game against South Hills on Tuesday that the Indians would advance to the Southern Section 4-A Division title game.

And the Hart coach’s intuition proved correct as his team won, 14-0, at Gladstone High in Covina. The Indians will play Cerritos, a 2-1 winner over Glendora, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Dodger Stadium for the championship.

Before Murray is praised for an uncanny knack for prognostication, however, consider this subtle hint that might have tipped him off: Hart (23-6) scored eight runs in the first inning before an out was recorded. For the game, South Hills (19-8) was held to four hits, reached second base just three times and third once.

“There was just no way were going to come into this ballgame without an edge on these guys,” Murray said. “I think it was written in the sky.”

The Huskies saw something in the sky too--the better part of 14 Hart hits.

“A lot of teams just roll over and die. And, after that first inning, that’s just what we did,” said South Hills Coach Jim Bastion, adding that Hart is the best hitting team he has seen in 22 years as a coach.

Lance Migita and Darin Tsukashima walked to lead off the first. Robby Davis singled, scoring Migita, and Ray Gardocki doubled to clear the bases. Casey Burrill singled home Gardocki to make it 4-0 before Chris Vasquez walked.

Jason Edwards and David Toledo followed with consecutive doubles to score three more runs. Migita capped the rally with a single that drove in Toledo. The inning ended when Jay Sanford was caught stealing home and Tsukashima hit into a double play.

Four more runs scored in the third on a double by Migita, a sacrifice fly by Gardocki, Burrill’s single and a passed ball. The Indians added two runs in the fourth.

Andrew Lorraine (9-4) got the win after giving up three hits and three walks in five innings. Keith Halcovich gave up a hit and struck out two in two innings of relief.

Jason Giambi (9-3), who was pulled in the first before recording an out, was charged with the loss.