HIGH SCHOOL ALL-STAR BASEBALL : Phillips Triple Gives Teams a Tie

After nine innings and 13 pitchers, the 2-A and 3-A all-star teams ended their annual meeting in a 4-4 tie at San Diego State’s Smith Field.

The game’s big blow came in the bottom of the ninth inning off the bat of Poway catcher Mark Phillips, who delivered a two-out, two-run triple.

Phillips’ blast to deep center field off Lincoln’s Tobias Price came after Grossmont’s Matt Jones and Mt. Miguel’s Chris Green had walked.

Mark Pallotto of Rancho Buena Vista also walked. Madison’s Jesus Martinez replaced Price and struck out Granite Hills’ Mike Smith to preserve the tie.

Division 2-A got five hits, Division 3-A four. The game took 2 1/2 hours.

Although the pitching was outstanding, Mission Bay Coach Dennis Pugh said left-handers Ryan Smith (Helix), Mark Redman (Escondido), Manny Castillo (Mission Bay) and Brendan Hause (Mira Mesa) “were especially sharp.”

The 2-A opened the scoring with back-to-back doubles by Tim Mulligan (Carlsbad) and John Mozerka (St. Augustine). Mozerka later scored on a sacrifice fly by Rob Reid (Valhalla).

Oceanside’s Carl Mathis also doubled for the 2-A, which had won the previous two meetings.

Shortstop Hector Concepcion (Marian Catholic) was the outstanding defensive player.