Saugus Seeks Baseball Title in 3-A Final

Saugus High will attempt to win the first baseball title in its 14-year history today when the Golden League champion Centurions play Kennedy of La Palma for the Southern Section 3-A Division championship at 1 p.m. at Dodger Stadium.

“We’ve played some tough teams. But this team has really good chemistry,” said Coach Doug Worley, who led Saugus to the 2-A Division title game in 1986 before losing to Artesia. “I think we’re strong everywhere.”

Especially when it comes to pitching. The game will bring to a close the magnificent high school career of senior right-hander Roger Salkeld, who probably will make a beeline for professional baseball after Monday’s amateur draft.

Salkeld (6-foot-5, 210 pounds) is 13-0 with 168 strikeouts in 100 1/3 innings and is expected to be an early first-round draft choice, according to Sports Illustrated, ESPN and Baseball America. Salkeld’s career record is 30-6 and he has 395 strikeouts in 257 1/3 innings.

Salkeld, who posted his second postseason complete-game win in Tuesday’s 10-3 semifinal win over Ontario, is expected to start. Senior left-hander Scott Warr, who is 8-2 with a 1.77 earned-run average, is available for relief duty. Warr also leads Saugus (23-4-2) with seven home runs.

Kennedy Coach Chris Pascal says that his team is ready and waiting for Salkeld.

“Our guys are anxious to see the guy,” Pascal said. “They respect him, but we’re gonna go after him. My kids have risen to the occasion all year.”

Kennedy (25-5), which won the Garden Grove League title--its first league title in 20 years--has made a turnaround under Pascal. Last season, Kennedy posted its first winning record in 19 years.

“There are liable to be some big boys on the hill,” said Pascal, who is in his fourth year.

The Fighting Irish have their own 6-foot-5, hard-throwing right-hander. Senior Greg Hansell (12-1, 1.36 ERA) is scheduled to start. Hansell, a four-year varsity player, has posted two playoff wins and has a 23-12 career record.

Senior right-hander Pete Montera (11-2, 0.95 ERA) also is 2-0 in the playoffs. Shortstop Steve Rath, another four-year varsity member, is batting .446 and has 45 hits.

For Saugus, senior outfielder Matt Tull is batting .448 with a school-record 14 doubles this season. Senior center fielder Darrell Davis, who bats leadoff, has 29 stolen bases. Davis stole a school-record 30 bases last season.