Dana Hills

In high school baseball, pitching wins championships, and Dana Point Dana Hills sent out its ace, Peter Tago, in Tuesday's Southern Section Division 1 semifinals against Placentia El Dorado, and Tago came through with a 13-strikeout performance in a 5-3 victory at Blair Field in Long Beach. "That's an unbelievable performance for him," Dana Hills Coach Tom Faris said. "He really showed his competitiveness. He did one heck of a job on the mound." Tago (10-3), who has committed to Cal State Fullerton and is expected to be taken in next week's amateur draft, gave up seven hits and walked two in helping unseeded Dana Hills (20-12)

The professional scouts were out in force Tuesday afternoon for the Southern Section Division 1 wild-card playoff game that featured two top pitching prospects, Hueneme's Jesus Valdez and Dana Point Dana Hills' Peter Tago. Valdez was clocked throwing 91 mph in a perfect first inning. Tago touched 94 mph and gave up a run-scoring double to Valdez in the first inning. But Hueneme's hopes suffered a severe blow on that double because Valdez rolled his ankle going into second base.

Santa Ana Mater Dei (6-4) at No. 9 La Puente Bishop Amat (9-1), 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket This is widely considered the most evenly matched first-round game in the Pac-5 Division playoffs, but it could turn into a rout if Bishop Amat's defense can pull off a repeat of its performance last week against Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. The Lancers sacked quarterback Ryan Kasdorf four times in the second half and held tailback Kenneth Boggs to four yards during a 31-14 victory that clinched a share of the Serra League title.

No. 8 Moorpark (9-0, 6-0) at No. 23 Westlake Village Westlake (9-0, 6-0), 7 p.m. -- An overflow crowd of more than 5,000 is expected to attend what is believed to be the first meeting of 9-0 football teams in Ventura County. "I don't know where we're going to put all these people," Westlake Coach Jim Benkert said. A bigger worry for the Warriors might be scoring on a Moorpark defense that has allowed only 10 points per game and held Sherman Oaks Notre Dame's prolific offense to 14. The pick: Moorpark.

Rankings by Ben Bolch: Rk. Team (Section, Rec.) Last week's results (last week's ranking) -- 1 CHATSWORTH (City-Div. I) 21-2 def. Granada Hills, 6-0; Granada Hills, 4-2; Narbonne, 14-3. (2) 2 MATER DEI (SS-Div. I) 17-3 def. Servite, 13-2; lost to Servite, 5-4. (1) 3 EL TORO (SS-Div. II) 16-4 def. Northwood, 4-1; lost to Northwood, 3-2. (3) 4 EDISON (SS-Div. I) 15-3 def. Fountain Valley, 7-0; lost to Fountain Valley, 5-4. (4)

Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley (14-5, 5-2) at Dana Hills (12-7, 5-2) Today at 3:15 p.m. Why it matters: Capistrano Valley is trotting out ace Tyler Matzek (5-1, 1.64 earned-run average) in this battle of teams tied with Rancho Santa Margarita Tesoro atop the South Coast League standings. Matzek pitched a one-hitter against Dana Hills last month during the Cougars' 6-0 victory. The Dolphins are looking to bounce back after losing three of their last four games, including a doubleheader sweep against Valencia on Saturday in which they were outscored, 26-5.

No. 3 Vista Murrieta (4-0) vs. No. 5 Valencia (8-1) at Huntington Beach Sports Complex. Tonight at 5. Why it matters: Top-five teams meeting in the Faster to First tournament. Vista Murrieta has senior All-American pitcher Aly Fascetti (2-0). Upstart Valencia will start either freshman Carly Mortenson (4-1) or sophomore Sarah Enriquez (4-0). -- Melissa Rohlin SOFTBALL PREVIEW WEDNESDAY'S BASEBALL RESULT No. 2 Capistrano Valley 6, Dana Hills 0 Top contributors: Tyler Matzek struck out nine for Capistrano Valley.

Dana Point Dana Hills (4-2, 1-0) at No. 2 Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley (6-2, 1-0). Today at 3:15 p.m. Why it matters: The No. 1 professional baseball prospect in the Southland, left-hander Tyler Matzek (3-0), is scheduled to pitch for Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League showdown. Matzek threw a no-hitter last week against Aliso Niguel in his last outing. Matzek is also leading Capistrano Valley in hitting. Eric Ehlow will get the start for Dana Hills, with UCLA-bound Peter Tago available for relief duty.

The death of 14-year-old cross-country runner Megan Myers after a three-mile race stunned Dana Hills High School, as students and parents tried Thursday to comprehend the loss of an athlete with so much life yet to live. "She was the greatest kid, very bright and full of life," said Terry Tutton, a longtime friend of Myers and her family. "She had always been a runner and very athletic."

Shan Sondhu's left wrist was broken, his right one was racked with tendinitis, and the Dana Point Dana Hills boys' tennis team was facing its toughest competition so far this season in Torrey Pines. Hands down.