The West Ranch baseball team wasn’t taking any chances with Valencia slugger Trey Williams. West Ranch walked Williams with the bases loaded, using a very unconventional strategy, and beat Valencia, 8-4.

Williams came up to the plate with the bases loaded and his team down by four runs in the fifth inning. He could have tied the game with a home run. After hitting three home runs in one game against West Ranch last week, Williams was intentionally walked bringing the go-ahead run to the plate.

The move worked, as James Bond struck out to end the threat, and West Ranch went on to win the game.

West Ranch is a game behind Valencia for first place in the Foothill League standings.

In other baseball games, Saugus beat Golden Valley, 7-3. Justin Sheehan hit two home runs for Saugus. He was 2-for-2 and drove in three runs.

James Threw and Sheehan hit home runs in the first inning for Saugus. Threw hit a solo shot and Sheehan followed with a two-run homer to give Saugus an early 3-0 lead. Sheehan hit his second home run of the game in the fourth inning.

Anthony San Miguel was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs for Golden Valley.

Canyon beat Hart, 5-3, and won their second league game of the year. Both of Canyon’s wins have come against Hart.

Canyon pitcher Thomas Kratky threw a six-hitter and struck out seven to earn the win.

In high school football, Hart High quarterback C.J. Reyes will play college at Idaho State, according to a report in The Signal. Reyes, an All-CIF Southern Section Northern Division selection as a utility player, will be the punter at Idaho State. In addition to playing quarterback at Hart, Reyes was the place kicker and punter. He averaged 39.8 yards per punt in his senior season.

Saugus quarterback Zack Gauthier is also headed to the NCAA and will play quarterback for Humboldt State.

In auto racing, Canyon Country’s RJ Johnson won the first NASCAR Late Model race of his career at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. He also took over the lead in the Late Model standings at the track.

It was a good night for a few drivers from the Santa Clarita Valley. Acton’s Ken Maler Jr. finished second in the Super Trucks race, his best finish in Super Trucks at the track. Rich DeLong III had his three-race winning streak snapped in the Super Stocks division, but still finished second and padded his lead in the Super Stocks standings.

Go to Haddock in the Paddock for recaps of the races and driver interviews from Irwindale.

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The Lakers blew a fourth-quarter lead, but Kobe Bryant bailed his team out in a 104-99 Game 1 win over the Utah Jazz in the NBA playoffs.

Bryant scored 31 points, 11 in the final four minutes, as the Lakers rallied late to take a 1-0 lead in the second-round playoff series.

Pau Gasol had 25 points and 11 rebounds. More importantly, Andrew Bynum had eight points and 10 rebounds on a visibly tender right knee.
Game 2 is Tuesday at Staples Center.

The Dodgers hammered the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-3, and all of sudden have a three-game winning streak. Andre Ethier hit two home runs and drove in four as the Dodgers completed the weekend sweep of the Pirates.

More good news, Manny Ramirez is expected to make a rehab start for San Bernardino on Tuesday night, the same night Jeff Weaver is expected to make a start of the Dodgers single-A minor league team. Both Ramirez and Weaver can come of the disabled last this weekend.