From the Bench: Locals shine on the big stage

We are headed down the home stretch of the spring athletic season and there is plenty to watch for in the final month and a half. In fact, if you were snoozing on prep sports last week you missed some exciting victories.

There was probably no win as exhilarating as the one the Poway High baseball team scored Friday night. It would not have mattered who was on the other side of the diamond for this one, because what made the win thrilling is that it came at Petco Park.

The Titans polished off a sweep of Mt. Carmel inside of the beautiful downtown stadium, beating the Sundevils 7-0 behind a complete-game shutout by sophomore Dylan Weese and a memorable home run from Kevin Bristow.

“I didn’t think it was going to go out because of the wind,” Bristow said afterward. “But when it hit the bleachers it was unreal. Just a great feeling and something I will remember forever.”

Speaking of forever, the Rancho Bernardo boys golf team had not beaten Torrey Pines in forever. Well, at least as far back as anyone currently involved with the program can remember. That changed on April 16.

The Broncos, who seem to finish in second to the Falcons in league and the section championships every year, knocked off their nemesis 362-369 for the first time in at least 10 years.

Then they did it again on Monday, beating Torrey Pines 366-368.

The two victories puts Rancho Bernardo in position to win its first Palomar League title since 2010.

Junior Taisei Negishi led the way in the first meeting, firing a 2-under 70 at Admiral Baker Golf Course. All four other Broncos’ scorers carded a 73.

The second meeting, also at Admiral Baker Golf Course, was led by Steve Sugimoto and Negishi, who both shot an even-par 72.

Last week was also a big one on the track. The Broncos’ boys and girls teams beat Poway in a dual meet and there were a couple great performances by locals at the prestigious Arcadia Invitational.

Del Norte’s 4x400-meter relay team clocked a San Diego Section-best 3-minutes, 21.28 seconds at Arcadia, which was good enough for second place. The team includes Paul Holbel, Nathan Marin, Thomas Mackey and D’Angelo Gunter. Watch out for those four in the upcoming section championships.

Rancho Bernardo’s Bryanna Fuller also turned in a great meet. She broke the 11-minute barrier in the 3,200, finishing in 10:57.52. That currently leads all runners in the section.

Last week was great, but The Bench thinks more is still to come. With league title chases heating up and the section championships around the corner, there is bound to be some more big-time wins and performances on the horizon.