"This was our first varsity league game ever," Nipomo outfielder-pitcher Justin Robertson said. "So we knew we/d better win it."

The Titans had just rallied to defeat Santa Maria 5-4 at Elks Field Tuesday. Robertson/s contributions were big reasons why second-year Nipomo/s initial Los Padres League baseball game was a success.

Robertson hit a three-run home run that capped Nipomo/s four-run fourth inning. The Titans wiped out a 3-1 deficit then. Nipomo improved to 3-4 overall. Santa Maria is 0-1, 1-7.

Kyle Houseman/s single brought Nipomo within 3-2, then Robertson belted an Eloy Ruiz pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homer.

"It was a high fastball," Robertson said. "I was looking for it."

The Titans outhit Santa Maria 11-4. Brad Crawford, Mike Cleary and Houseman, Nipomo/s seven, eight and nine hitters, had two each. Cleary doubled in Nipomo/s first run in the second inning.

A blown call in the sixth hurt the Saints. With two outs, Cesar Hernandez on third base and Alex Palacios on second, Mark Markstone/s shallow hopper went off Nipomo second baseman Bryce Seguine/s glove.

Markstone had already crossed the bag by the time the throw got to first baseman Ryan Milne, but the base umpire called Markstone out.

Santa Maria coach Scott Nickason argued briefly with the umpire between innings but, "That (call) wasn/t what lost it for us or won it for them," Nickason said afterward.

"The fly ball to left before the home run should have been caught," Nickason said. "If it had been, that would have been one less run. We/re playing too timid."

Robertson came in from center field to relieve Titans starting pitcher Justin Scoggins. Robertson got the last out of the game when his replacement in center, Collin Raynaud, raced back and snagged Saints center fielder Cesar Hernandez/s deep drive.

Robertson acknowledged that his heart was racing a bit when Hernandez hit the ball and Raynaud was sprinting back. "He (had been) playing shallow," Robertson said.

Raynaud reached after his long run, snared the ball, tumbled to the ground and held on to the ball.

"Their center fielder made a heck of a catch," Nickason said.

"In our situation, with our program being in its second year, the last out when we/re ahead is the toughest one for us to get," said Nipomo coach Terry Albert.

The last out did come hard for the Titans. With two outs, Robertson hit Santa Maria pitcher John Robles with a pitch. Robertson then dropped a tough pop fly behind the mound after a long run with his back to the plate.

Robles scored on a wild pitch but, after Juan Figueroa walked, Raynaud made his big catch.

"I was very proud of our kids," Albert said. "We made the plays we had to make, and we hadn/t always been making them. We did today."

Nipomo/s defense 7 just the error by Robertson 7 compensated for two Titans runners being picked off and two more caught stealing.

Figueroa gave the Saints a 3-1 lead with a two-run single up the middle in the third inning. Back-to-back doubles by Bobby Ferrel and Robles, with Robles/ scoring Ferrel, preceded Figueroa/s hit.

Scoggins, who weathered a three-walk second inning, set the Saints down in order in the fifth.

"I was trying to decide whether to go with Justin (Robertson) in the sixth or seventh 7 he/s our closer," Albert said. "Justin (Scoggins) had had a great fifth inning.

"(Assistant coach) Jim Stevens said to go with (Robertson), and it worked out."

Nipomo hosts Cabrillo at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Santa Maria plays at Santa Ynez the same day and time. Both games are league games.

St. Joseph 6. Santa Ynez 5

Josh Meagher gave the Knights their first win of the season in their Los Padres League opener by hitting a 3-run home run in the seventh inning.

"This one/s my fault," said Santa Ynez coach Dave Kuehn. Anthony Martin was the Pirates/ starter and, "I left Anthony in an inning too long." Meagher hit his home run off Santa Ynez relief pitcher Jason Lambert. "The kids played well," Kuehn said.

Kevin Buchanan doubled for St. Joseph (1-0, 1-7). Zac Steele was 3-for-3 with three runs batted in for Santa Ynez (0-1, 5-4).

Bryan Pease and Bryan McConkey had two hits apiece for St. Joseph, which hosts Montclair Prep at 3:30 p.m.. Friday in a non-league game.

Morro Bay 13, Cabrillo 12

VANDENBERG VILLAGE 7 The Conquistadores (0-1, 4-5) came up a run short on a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh.

Bubba Jones hit a three-run home run in the first for Cabrillo. Isaac Simmons doubled and tripled. Chris Smith went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs.

Jones and Matt Hansen had two hits each for Cabrillo.

Righetti 9, Atascadero 2

ATASCADERO 7 The Warriors won this one with seven runs in the ninth as they snapped a 2-2 tie in the team/s PAC-5 League opener.

Blaine Wilson hit a two-run homer in the ninth. "We/d already scored five runs by then," said Righetti coach Eric Albright.

The Warriors improved to 7-2 overall. It was almost 6-3 "so many times," said Albright.

"There was a ball in the right-center field gap, and (right fielder Jimmy) ran it down," Albright said. "The bases were loaded with a 3-0 count and two outs in the seventh, and (David) Lohman struck the guy out."

Righetti starter Ben Grover and Lohman combined for 12 strikeouts. The Warriors outhit the Greyhounds 14-3, but seven of Righetti/s hits came in the ninth.

Righetti plays at 3:30 p.m. Friday at San Luis Obispo.

AG 4, Paso Robles 1

ARROYO GRANDE 7 Josh Gutierrez scattered eight hits to help the Eagles (1-0, 6-2) win their PAC-5 opener.

Softball

Santa Maria 8, Nipomo 0

Erika Amarillas scattered six hits, and Angela Martinez and Valerie De Los Santos each hit home runs as the Saints (4-7 overall) won at home in their LPL opener.

Martinez hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. De Los Santos hit a three-run homer in the sixth. Santa Maria scored six times then.

St. Joseph 12, Santa Ynez 1

At the Hagerman Sports Complex, Knights pitcher Marissa Martinez checked the Pirates on three hits.

St. Joseph is 1-0, 3-3-1. Martinez, Sharee Vail, Jaimey Kleinsmith and Amy Stowe all had two hits for the Knights. Martinez doubled.

Cabrillo 1, Morro Bay 0

VANDENBERG VILLAGE 7 Brooke Brockett hurled a no-hitter for Cabrillo, and Bonnie Calhoun scored the only run of the game in the seventh inning on consecutive Morro Bay errors.

The Conquistadores improved to 4-1-1 by winning their LPL opener. Brockett struck out 10 and walked one. Morro Bay is 5-2-1 overall.

VCA 14, NCC 0

Christine Regalado threw a one-hitter and struck out 14 as the Lions improved to 2-0 in the Coast Valley League and 4-0 overall by routing North County Christian of Atascadero.

This game at Valley Christian Academy was called after five innings because of the run rule.

Regina Garza doubled and had three hits for the Lions. Garza, Brittani Datu and Cynthia Regalado all had three hits.

Murphy had two hits. Datu and Murphy doubled. Michelle Rivas tripled.

Tennis

Santa Maria 10, SJ 8

Ricky Chan and Jose Garcia, Santa Maria/s top two singles players, won two matches apiece as the Saints won a LPL match on the Knights/ courts.

St. Joseph suffered a jolt just prior to the match. Knights coach Meg Hoffman said Tim Schweigert, one of the best players in the area, had to leave the team, likely for the season, for personal reasons.

Lompoc 10, Santa Ynez 8

LOMPOC 7 Manny Solorio swept his sets at No. 1 singles to help the Braves (3-0, 6-0) to a LPL victory. Erik Reif and Ben Rieden swept at No. 1 doubles for the Pirates (3-1, 5-4).

Paso Robles 10, Cabrillo 8

PASO ROBLES 7 Rishaubh Chaudhari won two of his three sets, and Clay Fields and Edgar Chavez swept in doubles, but the Conquistadores came up just short in a non-league match.

Golf

RHS 425, SM 559

Medalist Eric Barnard led the Warriors to victory with a 78 at this non-league match at Rancho Maria.

The PAC-5 League tournament Righetti is hosting has been moved to today at the Santa Maria Country Club.

March 24, 2004