Christian freshman making his mark

Christian High freshman Cody Poteet has experience beyond his years from travel teams, including the U.S. National 14-under team, that has helped him help the Patriots this season.

Bill Dickens has a story right here in the San Diego Union-Tribune that details what Poteet has accomplished through the first half of the season.

Mission Bay's Black rolling again

By Leanne Kenney

Mission Bay senior shortstop Corey Black is healthy again and making up for lost time.

Black was sidelined last season by an arm injury which required surgery. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Black has returned stronger than ever.

"His arm is rock solid now, coming off Tommy John surgery in spring 2008 and a strong rehab program," said Mission Bay coach Greg Farrar. "He's really locked in both offensively and defensively."

Is he ever.

Black went 6-for-10 during a recent three-game stretch for the Buccaneers, with one double, one triple and four home runs. Two of the homers came last week in Mission Bay's 6-4 win over Madison. Black's batting average is up to .491 for the season with 6 homers, 17 RBIs and eight stolen bases.

Mission Bay had won six of its past eight games before dropping a pair this week against Point Loma on 8-3 and 5-4 scores.

There's more on Black and the Bucs at this link. Click on the Teams/Rosters tab on left.

2009 Lions Tournament champions

Championship results today in the 59th Annual Lions Tournament

CLASSIC DIVISION
Temecula Valley 11, Rancho Buena Vista 7
Semifinals
Rancho Buena Vista 9, Cathedral Catholic 8
Temecula Valley 3, La Costa Canyon 2

PREMIER DIVISION
Vista 10, Eastlake 0
Semifinals
Eastlake 3, Sacramento Elk Grove 2 (9)
Vista 6, El Camino Real 5

AAAAA DIVISION
Bonita Vista 7, Villa Park 6
Semifinals
Villa Park 3, El Camino 2
Bonita Vista 4, Patrick Henry 3

AAAA DIVISION
St. Augustine 8, Otay Ranch 0
Semifinals
Otay Ranch 6, Harvard-Westlake 5 (8)
St. Augustine 6, Chula Vista 1

AAA DIVISION
Santa Fe Christian 12, Nevada Union 7
Semifinals
Nevada Union 5, Escondido 2
Santa Fe Christian 11, Mount Miguel 3

AA DIVISION
Arleta 7, Culver City 6
Semifinals
Arleta 6, Brawley 0
Culver City 13, San Francisco Placer 7

A DIVISION
Las Vegas Del Sol 9, Mar Vista 5
Semifinals
Mar Vista 3, Clairemont 2
Las Vegas Del Sol 10, Olympian 4

Lions Tournament semifinals matchups set

Pool play was completed today in the 59th Annual Lions Tournament.

Here are Thursday's semifinal matchups:

CLASSIC DIVISION
(at USD's Cunningham Stadium)
Semifinals
Rancho Buena Vista vs. Cathedral Catholic, 9:30 a.m.
Temecula Valley vs. La Costa Canyon, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

PREMIER DIVISION
(at Southwestern College)
Semifinals
Sacramento Elk Grove vs. Eastlake, 9:30 a.m.
Vista vs. El Camino Real, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

AAAAA DIVISION
(at Grossmont College)
Semifinals
Bonita Vista vs. Patrick Henry, 9:30 a.m.
El Camino vs. Villa Park, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

AAAA DIVISION
Semifinals
(At Westview High)
Otay Ranch vs. Harvard Westlake, 9:30 a.m.
(At Cathedral Catholic High)
Chula Vista vs. St. Augustine, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
(at Cathedral Catholic High)
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

AAA DIVISION
(At Coronado High)
Semifinals
Nevada Union vs. Escondido, 9:30 a.m.
Mount Miguel vs. Santa Fe Christian, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

AA DIVISION
(at Alliant University)
Semifinals
Brawley vs. Arleta, 9:30 a.m.
Culver City vs. San Francisco Placer, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

A DIVISION
(At Mira Costa College)
Semifinals
Clairemont vs. Mar Vista, 9:30 a.m.
Del Sol vs. Olympian, 12:30 p.m.
Championship
Semifinals winners, 3:30 p.m.

Poway gets back on track with win over Kennedy

By Leanne Kenney

Poway is the defending champion in the Classic Division of the Lions Tournament, although the Titans didn't play like it in Monday's 15-4 loss to Temecula Valley.

The Titans got back on track today against Kennedy. Evidence came as Evan Thomas received congratulations from his Titan teammates (left) after hitting a three-run homer during a four-run third inning that propelled Poway to a 9-2 home victory over Kennedy.

Poway's Josh Anderson and Austin Wynns each contributed two RBI to the effort. Junior right-hander John Jensen-Johnson got the win, allowing one unearned run over three innings while striking out four.

The Titans complete pool play on Wednesday when they host Valhalla at 3 p.m. The winner of their pool advances to Thursday's semifinals. The semifinals winners play for the Classic Division championship Thursday afternoon at USD's Cunningham Stadium.

Here are some of Wednesday's other top games:

Green Valley at Granite Hills, 12
Hilltop at Madison, 12
Bingham at Mira Mesa, 1
Cathedral Catholic at El Capitan, 3
La Costa Canyon at Rancho Bernardo, 3
Patrick Henry at Mission Hills, 3
Point Loma at Westview, 3

Reading leads Torrey Pines past Cathedral

By Leanne Kenney

Torrey Pines missed the presence of senior J.J. Reading last season. The second baseman was out for the year with an injury after batting .511 as a sophomore in 2007.

Reading is making up for lost time. He hit two home runs in the Falcons' 14-10 victory over Cathedral Catholic today at Torrey Pines in the Classic Division game of the Lions Tournament.

Reading homered off Cathedral pitcher Jonathan Meyer leading off the bottom of the first inning and repeated the feat in the second inning, depositing a pitch from Meyer into the trees beyond the left-field fence for a three-run homer.

Torrey Pines built a 14-3 lead through five innings and was cruising before Cathedral put up seven runs in the sixth to make it 14-10.

Junior left-hander Joey DeNato (3-1) was in command before tiring in the sixth and giving way to reliever Nate Walker when the Dons rallied. DeNato was charged with seven runs (four while he was in the game). Ryan Wilkins capped the rally for Cathedral with a grand slam off Walker.

That was as close as Cathedral could get, however.

Pool play continues today with Torrey Pines playing El Capitan at noon at Rancho Bernardo High and Cathedral hosting Stockdale at 2:30 p.m.

Here are some of Tuesday's other top games:
Liberty at Vista, 10
Yucaipa vs. Granite Hills at Coronado High, 12
Elk Grove vs. Mira Mesa at Vista High, 1
Kennedy at Poway, 2
Oceanside at Scripps Ranch, 3
Grossmont at Rancho Bernardo, 3

59th Annual Lions Tournament opens

By Leanne Kenney

The 59th Annual Lions Tournament begins its four-day run today with 112 teams (including 40 teams from outside San Diego County) in seven divisions playing throughout the county.

Some of today's top matchups include:

Stockdale at El Capitan, 12 p.m.
La Costa Canyon at Grossmont, 12 p.m.
RB vs. Silverado at El Capitan, 3
Eastlake at Montgomery, 3 p.m.
Cathedral Catholic at Torrey Pines, 3 p.m.
Temecula Valley at Poway, 3 p.m.

There's more information online at the Lions Tournament Web site.

Here is a direct link to the tournament schedule.

The defending champions are:

Classic: Poway
Premier: Vista
AAAAA: Santana
AAAA: Serra
AAA: Sweetwater
AA: San Marcos
A: El Cajon Valley

Pool play continues through Wednesday. The top two teams in each pool advance to Thursday's semifinals. Semifinals winner play Thursday afternoon for their respective titles.

Here's some Lions Tournament history — including winners over the past 20 years — on how legendary San Diego High coach Les Cassie came to be its founding father. And here's a list of the dozens of major leaguers who have played in the tournament.

It's quite a history.

Another chapter begins today.