Sultans clinch third straight MRL title

HESPERIA • Pitcher Kyle Sprague tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout to help the Sultana baseball team beat Serrano 10-0 on Monday and clinch its third consecutive Mojave River League title.

The Sultans (13-8, 8-3 MRL) came in with a one-game lead over Hesperia in the league standings with two games to play.

But with the win over Serrano (5-5 MRL) and Hesperia’s (6-5 MRL) loss to Apple Valley, Sultana clinched its second straight outright championship.

Two years ago, the Scorpions and Sultans tied for the league title.

Sprague’s effort marked the first complete game thrown by any Sultana pitcher this season. Only one runner for Serrano reached third base — in the second inning — against Sprague.

“That’s the best-pitched game all year for us, especially in a clutch situation like that to clinch the league title,” Sultana coach Dave Hill said. “That’s a quality game for Kyle.”

Sultana scored four runs in the bottom of the second to take a 4-0 lead. Patrick Aiken led off the inning with a solo home run, and the Sultans scored their final three runs of the frame on four straight two-out hits.

Grant Holden went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Mark Tomassi finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and Kenny McMurray was 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Sultana, which closes out its regular season on Wednesday at Serrano.

Serrano 000 000 0 — 0 4 5
Sultana 040 213 0 — 10 14 3

Grady, Peters (N/A), Jacobson (N/A) and Orozco; Sprague and Ward. WP — Sprague; LP— Grady. 2B — Bellanger (Se), Holden 2 (Su). HR — Aiken (Su).