It's a Hit: Harvard-Westlake Wins First Baseball Title

What a week for high school baseball, as Harvard-Westlake and Campbell Hall both won league titles, with Harvard-Westlake taking the Mission League championship and Campbell Hall finishing first in the Alpha League.

Harvard-Westlake’s achievement is especially noteworthy because it’s the first time the Wolverines have won a baseball title since joining the league – and perhaps the first baseball championship in the school’s 111-year history.

“It’s never been done,” coach Matt LaCour said. “We sent out an email to our alumni, and no one can remember ever winning a league championship, so I don’t know if we ever have.”

Playoff pairings are scheduled to be released Monday.

LaCour, 37, arrived five years ago after a successful run at City Section power El Camino Real, where he averaged 26 wins per year, including being the Cal-Hi Sports state team of the year in 2005.

“We had years at ECR where we were like 27-3, and I knew there was no way that was going to happen here at Harvard-Westlake right out of the gate,” LaCour said. “I think winning the league title this year is a culmination of five years of grinding it out, not just one good season.”

This year, Harvard-Westlake (21-7) has built its success with pitching and defense. Lucas Giolito, a junior pitcher headed to UCLA, is a big name, but otherwise the Wolverines are a team of unhonored  upstarts, most of whom are underclassmen.

“We’re not the kind of team that’s going to out-physical you, but there is talent on this team,” LaCour said. “We don’t have superstars that everyone knows about, so I think everyone in the league is kind of wondering, ‘How did this happen?’ This team believed from day one when we met in September and decided we were going to find ways to get it done. It didn’t matter to us what anyone else thought.”

Three weeks ago, Harvard-Westlake wasn’t even ranked in the top 10 in the Southern Section Division II poll.

“You can look at all the Mission League teams that were ranked ahead of us, and now we’re going to be seeded ahead of them in the playoffs,” LaCour said. “I think we deserve a top-four seed, which is traditional for the Mission League champion.”

VIKINGS QUESTS

Campbell Hall (18-6) came from two games back in the standings, winning its last five including a two-game sweep over Paraclete this past week to win the title.

“Paraclete’s a tough team, and we beat them twice to win the league outright, so we’re enjoying our league championship,” catcher Adam Ehrlich said. “We’re going to try to carry the momentum into the playoffs, and we feel very confident after finishing first in the most competitive league in Division V.”

Ehrlich, batting .581 with five home runs and 49 RBIs, is part of a murderer’s-row lineup that includes Brett Lake (.591, three home runs, 37 RBIs), Cory Bloom (.413, 19 RBIs) and Jack Bensinger (.355, 25 RBIs).

“We have a few hitters who are doing well, and they protect each other,” coach Juan Velazquez said. “If you pitch around one, then you have to face the next guy. You have to play it straight and pitch to them. It’s pick your poison.”

Between Campbell Hall, Paraclete and Montclair Prep, the Alpha League figures to make a good showing in the playoffs.

“I feel good. I think all three of us have a chance to make some noise,” Velazquez said.