Powered by strong pitching and timely hitting, the Los Altos High varsity baseball team defeated the alumni 8-4 May 20 in the sixth annual Bob Baird Memorial Alumni game at the LAHS baseball diamond.
The annual game honors former Los Altos High coach Bob Baird. A $750 scholarship is awarded each year to the most deserving senior. This year’s winner was Peter Serventi.
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning. The varsity was led by doubles by recent grads Mike Shepherd and Dino Quintero.
The Eagles scored another run in the third, but the alumni came back to take the lead in the fifth with two more runs knocked in by Ken Grolle.
The alumni threatened again in the sixth and seventh innings by filling the bases. However, fine Eagle pitching by Matt Kramer and Cam Matthews helped the varsity shut down the alumni both times.
In the eighth, the varsity rallied for five runs to take the lead. The key hit was by sophomore Thomas Roux, who doubled in two runs.
According to alumni coach Bill Dolby, the varsity clearly improved this year.
“Sandy Wihtol has done a fine job of building a solid program,” he said. “We’re going to have to get more young alumni in the future if we’re going to keep up with them.”
In the pre-game home run derby, the Eagles varsity hit five homers. Raul Ontiveros slugged two homers and Brian Love, Joe Guy and Serventi each hit one.
To contribute to the Bob Baird Scholarship Fund, send a donation to: Bob Baird Scholarship Fund, c/o Bill Dolby, 905 Maywood Court, Los Altos, 94024.
