For a second straight game, the runs snowballed early.

Paso Robles' Thomas Bernal slammed an RBI double to left field, igniting a five-run first inning for his Bearcats over the Arroyo Grande Eagles.

And then Bernal - the pitcher - took to the mound, and slammed the door.

Paso Robles, for the second straight game, used a big first inning to top Arroyo Grande, finishing the series with a 10-1 win at P.O.V.E. Field. Paso Robles took two out of the three games - the third a tie.

“In the first inning, we got some key hits and a couple errors. That's what happened on Wednesday too,” Paso Robles coach Derek Stroud.

The Bearcats scored seven runs in the first inning on Wednesday, going on for the 8-0 win.

On Friday, four Eagles' errors aided in the process.

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“Guys have got to want it,” Arroyo Grande coach Jim Wysong said of playing defense. “We are going to work on a lot of simple fundamentals.”

Arroyo Grande (4-3-1) will have a chance to do just that at the Don Lugo Tournament in Chino next week. Arroyo Grande's first opponent will be Maranatha of Pasadena on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.

Both PAC-7 teams sent out a first-time starter Friday, two talented hurlers with previous relief experience. Bernal - just a sophomore - allowed six hits without walking a batter.

And he was just as impressive at the plate, going 4-for-5.

His double in the first inning scored the second run of the frame, following Nick Jones' RBI single - a high chopper over the third baseman's head. Bernal scurried to third on the first error of the inning.

The second one occurred two plays later, when J.R. Reynolds hit a grounder to shortstop. The throw to third was low, allowing Bernal to cruise in safe.

But the next error was the most costly of the game. Everyone came home when Trevor Lasley's towering hit to left center was eventually relayed, again, low to third base. Lasley was running to third when the error occurred, trotting home for a four-bagger. The score was suddenly 5-0.

Arroyo Grande did respond with a run in the bottom of the frame. Corey Onaga beat out an infield single, plating KJ Calderone.

Bernal doubled again in the second, and scored on a sacrifice grounder. His only out of the game came the following inning. However, the team had already tacked on another two runs, taking a commanding 8-1 advantage.

Bernal, in the meantime, settled down on the mound.

“He's just a sophomore, really level-headed,” Stroud said. “We are really composed, and he likes to compete. As the game went on, he got more confident.”

Arroyo Grande's Damian Oseguera also made his first varsity start, and previously threw a couple innings against Paso Robles in Game One of the series Tuesday. That game, ironically, ended in a 2-2 tie after it was called due to darkness.

Also getting some action on the mound were Forrest Pankey, Kyle Peterson and Corey Butcher.

Bernal continued his offensive/defensive gem in the fourth, leading off the inning with a single and later scoring on a sacrifice fly. He singled again in the fifth, but watched Jones score the final 10th run on, yet another, Arroyo Grande error.

Righetti 12, PV 2

The Warriors did the same thing to the Panthers Friday that the Panthers did to them Wednesday.

That is, RIghetti broke the game open with a nine-run home half of the sixth inning.

Righetti led 3-2 before both big run splurges began.

Austin Muro went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs for the Warriors. Matt Miller was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Jon Velazquez went 2-for-3.

Righetti (1-2, 3-4) salvaged the last of the three-game PAC-7 League series between the teams. Pioneer Valley is 2-1, 5-2.

Cabrillo 12, SM 4 (Thurs.)

The Conquistadores (1-1, 4-6) evened their Los Padres League record by beating the Saints (0-2, 1-7) at Elks Field.

Cabrillo starting pitcher Brian Engler worked six innings. He struck out seven. All of the four runs against him were unearned.

Conqs shortstop Ryan McGinty stole five bases. He also went 3-for-4 and doubled. Kevin Harmon had three hits and drove in three runs.

Zach Pecyna had two hits, including a double. He drove in a pair of runs. David Fraats (2-for-4) scored three times. Aaron Naputi went 2-for-4 for Cabrillo.

The Conquistadores play at 1:30 p.m. next Tuesday against Dos Pueblos in the Righetti Spring Tournament at Elks Field.

March 22, 2008