High School Baseball : Monroe Gains 1st-Place Tie in Pitchers’ Duel

Monroe High left-hander Tim Costic struck out 10 and allowed only four hits--two in the seventh inning--in leading the Vikings to a 2-1 Mid-Valley League victory over previously unbeaten Van Nuys on Tuesday at Monroe.

However, Costic (3-0) wasn’t the only pitcher to have a good day.

Van Nuys starter John House (2-1) pitched a no-hitter through 3 1/3 innings and finished with eight strikeouts and a two-hitter.

“We didn’t swing the bat well,” Monroe Coach Kevin Campbell said. “House kept us off balance with that knuckleball.”

Monroe (4-1) scored two unearned runs in the third to forge a first-place tie with the Wolves (4-1). With one out, Tony Rolando walked and Adam Clark was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a passed ball and scored on a throwing error.

Van Nuys closed to within 2-1 in the seventh. With one out, Gonzales doubled down the right-field line and scored on House’s two-out single to right. However, the Wolves’ hopes of upsetting Monroe, the defending City Section 4-A Division champion, were vanquished when Alvarenga flied out to left.