Bulldog baseball fights for Valley League title

Coach Deans Welch’s Ramona Bulldogs picked up a Valley League win over Orange Glen to remain in first place in league and beat San Dieguito Academy in a non-league game. The Dawgs are now 14-6 on the season and are 5-1 in the Valley League.

Ramona blasted 19 hits and scored 16 runs as the Bulldogs shut out Orange Glen on Rocky Lawler Field.

Orange Glen only officially committed three errors, but the Patriots didn’t make plays when they had a chance. The Pats had trouble with wind-blown fly balls and getting to balls that could have been caught.

Southpaw Cody Willingham picked up his fifth win of the season by going five innings and limiting the Pats to two hits as he fanned eight. He had a no-hitter through four innings. Kyle Snyder got the mop up duty and shut out the Pats for two innings on two hits. Snyder struck out two.

The Ramona offense was like an oldies station. The hits just kept on coming. Alex Muren led the offensive barrage with a 5-for-5 effort. Muren drove in four runs and hit his eighth home run of the campaign. He leads the North County in homers.

Blake T. Drake hit his first round tripper of the season as he went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Michael Studley was 2-for-5 with a double.

Smiley Willeford had plenty to smile about as the left-handed hitting catcher hit two home runs and drove in three runs. Brady Wilson ripped two hits one for a double. Erik Ernst was 1-for-2. James Nicholson and Jackson Willeford both had 1-for-3 outings.

Ernst went the final five innings in relief to pick up his first win of the season in Ramona’s 8-6 ten-inning win over san Dieguito Academy in a non-league game.

“Erik kept his composure,” said Coach Dean Welch. “In the sixth inning we made some errors and didn’t get to balls that we should have. He bored down and hung in there. He didn’t walk a batter. He kept us in the game until we found a way to win.”

Ernst relieved Studley, who went the first five innings. Studley gave up one run while surrendering just four hits. He struck out six.

“Studley has developed into a very consistent starter,” said Welch. “He pitched well enough to get a win.”

Ernst went the final five innings and gave up four earned runs on nine hits. He fanned five.

Ramona won the game in the 10th inning. With one out, Wilson drew a walk. Jackson Willeford doubled. San Dieguito walked Muren to load the bases. Smiley Willeford again made the opponent pay for walking Muren to get to him.

Smiley singled in a run. Drake reached first on a fielders choice that erased Jackson at the plate. Muren scored on a throwing error by the Mustang catcher.

Nicholson led the offense by going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Jackson was 3-for-6 with a double and an RBI. Hunt was 2-for-5. Studley went 2-for-6 with a double. Smiley was 2-for-5 as was Wilson.

Drake picked up a double in five trips. Kyle was also 1-for-5 with an RBI. Muren made the most of his one hit in four trips. He hit a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Now the Dawgs must fight it out for the Valley League title in their next three series.