HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL

La Mirada~Blake Wilson shook off a rough first inning then helped his own cause with the bat as La Mirada beat Bellflower on a very windy day in La Mirada, 7-5, in the Suburban League opener for both teams.

Wilson gave up four first-inning runs to the Bucs but the Matadores battled back and put up a five-spot in the third inning highlighted by Wilson's bases-clearing double to take a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Wilson gave up a solo home run to Brandon Polizzi to tie the game and than a single and a walk, but Wilson coaxed the Bucs into an inning-ending double play.

That fourth inning and the game might have been saved when Mats third baseman Devon Aldridge made a superb on-the-knees play and throw for the first out of the inning.

The Mats regained the lead 6-5 in the bottom of the frame when Ethan Lopez doubled home Aldridge. They added another in the sixth on an RBI single by R.J. Lan.

Tyler Charlton held the Bucs at bay by pitching scoreless fifth and sixth innings and Eric Tapper survived a shaky seventh to preserve the victory.

The two teams square off Friday at Bellflower beginning at 3 p.m.