PREP ROUNDUP : Blanton’s Eighth-Inning Homer Leads Mater Dei Past St. Bernard

Billy Blanton led off the bottom of the eighth inning with his third home run of the season, leading Mater Dei to a 4-3 victory over Playa del Rey St. Bernard in a first-round game of the St. Paul baseball tournament Saturday at Mater Dei.

Louie Prieto was two for three, including a game-tying, two-run single with two outs in the sixth, as the Monarchs (15-1) won their sixth consecutive game.

In nonleague baseball:

San Clemente 8-5, La Quinta 3-6--Chad Leckie, the county’s leading hitter, was three for six on the day, but saw his average decline to .554 from .560 as the Aztecs (10-6-1) split a doubleheader at San Clemente.

In the second game, La Quinta’s Brian Laningham hit a two-run, second-inning homer.

Katella 9-17, Magnolia 2-5--Matt Stockstill hit for the cycle in the second game, driving in five runs and scoring four as the Knights (9-8) came up with the sweep at Boysen Park.

Katella’s Jesse Santivanez had a second-inning, bases-loaded triple in the first game.

In nonleague boys’ swimming:

Laguna Hills 118, Simi Valley 29--Chad Carvin led off the 200-yard freestyle relay by swimming 50 yards in a school-record 21.56 seconds for the host Hawks (4-1).

Laguna Hills completed the relay in 1:30.21, topping the school mark of 1:30.94 set last year. Carvin broke his mark of 21.84 set last year.

Carvin also won the 200 and 500 freestyles and lead off the Hawks’ victorious 400-freestyle team.