Home Cookin': Laguna Creek coach's son misses team's shining moment

Hammerin' Hank wasn't allowed to watch Monday. Too much fifth-grade homework at the kitchen table with an unyielding mother keeping close watch.

Hank is the son of Laguna Creek High School baseball coach Brian LoForte. The little lad – a 9-year-old slugger for the Laguna Bombers World Series Cal Ripken team last summer – normally tags along with pops to Cardinals games, though he often must brave a peek through crossed fingers as they have endured some hideous blowouts.

Monday, Laguna Creek (6-13, 3-4 Delta Valley League) produced one of the season's biggest upsets, beating three-time defending Sac-Joaquin Section champion Elk Grove 5-1 to remain in the playoff race. It was quite a surprise considering that, before that game, LoForte's teams were 0-7 against the Herd.

Laguna Creek pitcher Chase Underwood, having a hard-luck season, had gone 0-3. The junior allowed nine runs in a season-opening 23-3 loss to Pleasant Grove, missed 10 games after breaking his hand after a tiff with his brother (the wall won), then had good moments later against Elk Grove and Franklin only to lose.

This time, though, Underwood was sharp from start to finish, tossing a three-hitter.

"My son was disappointed he couldn't see it," LoForte said, referring to Hank. "We needed this win. We didn't start any seniors, so we're young, and we've struggled, but we played really well."

More LoForte

Ten years ago, LoForte's McClatchy Lions pulled a playoff stunner. They were one of the state's top teams with a lineup that included Howie Correa, Rondell Baptiste, Kevin Franklin (now helping LoForte at Laguna), Ricky Barrett, Matt Bonovich, Corey Watts and Scott McLaughlin.

McClatchy defeated Vallejo in the opener of the best-of-three section championship series in 1998, then was crushed 12-0 in Game 2, setting up a must-win showdown against freshly drafted C.C. Sabathia, now the Cleveland Indians' ace.

Correa earned the win, Barrett the save and McLaughlin the most pats on the back after Sabathia's dominating senior season ended with McClatchy beating him 5-3.

McClatchy players hoisted McLaughlin onto their shoulders. The right-handed first baseman had most of his season wiped away by chemotherapy for a rare form of cancer that took part of his right hand before the campaign. He now is a pilot in San Diego.

Sierra success

The Sierra College wrestling team was honored Monday by the California State Assembly, with team members – all decked in suits and ties, mind you – receiving certificates that recognized their state team championship last fall.

Looking especially proud with buttons bulging on his dress shirt was heavyweight Erik Nye, a two-time state champion who just won a national tournament and is headed to Arizona State.

Hornets football clinic

Sacramento State will host its second annual football coaching clinic Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Fieldhouse.

Noted area football coaches scheduled to speak include Dave Hoskins (retired from Elk Grove, now at Sacramento City College), John Heffernan of Burbank (the Titans won their first Metro League outright title in 40 years last fall), Jason Tenner of Ponderosa (a first-year coach who led the Bruins to their first league title since 1981), Ernie Cooper of Granite Bay (three Division II section titles), Casey Taylor of Del Oro (who led a 13-0 team in 2005), Karl Zierhut of Capital Christian (the Cougars reached the D-IV title game last fall) and Joe Cattolico of Pleasant Grove (he took a new program to a 10-2 record in 2007).

Area coaches and their staffs are invited to attend. For information and reservations, call Brian Wilkinson at (916) 278-7053.

About the writer:

• Call The Bee's Joe Davidson, (916) 321-1280.