Santa Monica High showed little offense in beginning the baseball season with three losses, but the Vikings won the next three and indicated they might not be a weak-hitting team.
Samohi defeated Palisades in the Southern California Invitational, 5-1, behind the strong pitching of Mike Walsh. Samohi then edged Roosevelt, 7-6 and routed Dominguez, 20-1.
A second game against Dominguez was scheduled but was cancelled.
Samohi then began play in the RBI Tournament, which is contested on various college fields. The next home game is March 31 against Pacifica in the Redondo Tournament. Gametime is 2 p.m.
Catcher Cody Decker, one of the top hitters in Southern California high school ranks, is 8-for-11 with two home runs and has walked 10 times.
Decker received little hitting support in the first three games but that has changed. First baseman Stuart Boardman is hitting .350, rightfielder Ryan Rodriguez is over .300 and second baseman Kevin Gonzalez, the Vikings’ leadoff man, has been getting on base consistently.
Decker hit a two-run homer and drove in three other runs with a double against Roosevelt. He also had a single and a walk,
It was the second time this season he has come to bat five times in a game without being retired. In the season opener against Oxnard he had a home run and double and walked three times.
Justin Cooper pitched one inning to earn the save against Roosevelt, a prolific hitting team which lost a non-league game to Culver City, 10-9.
When Samohi routed Dominguez, Decker, Mike Eyler and Jesus Villanueva hit doubles and Justin Negrete had two hits.
Kevin Brockway, in his first season as the Vikings’ coach, said he is pleased with the team’s progress.
While playing non-league games Santa Monica is closely watching the performance of Ocean League teams. The Vikings are a member of the new league, which began in the last year with well-balanced football and basketball competition.
There is optimism at Morningside High, which has considerably upgraded its program in recent years, and at Culver City, where the team’s No. 1 pitcher Jeremy Burrell threw a no-hitter last week.Santa Monica will open league play April 12 and 14 with games against Morningside.