Menlo School pitcher Austin Marcus limited Menlo-Atherton to two hits as the Knights posted a 6-3 victory in the Tim Kuehnert Memorial Tournament at Menlo on Thursday afternoon.

Marcus threw 102 pitches and walked six en route to his complete-game victory. Menlo shortstop Adam Greenstein had two hits and an RBI while first baseman Will King also tripled, had an RBI, and scored two runs. Greenstein's fifth-inning triple snapped a 3-3 tie, providing Marcus with all of the offensive support he would need.

Sophomore outfielder Matt McGarry doubled and drove in two runs for M-A, while senior shortstop Alex Aguiar had the Bears' only other hit — a bloop double to right in the fourth inning. M-A starting pitcher Erik Amundson allowed five runs — three earned — on five hits over the first five innings, striking out four and walking three. M-A juniors Lawson Joos and Colin Martell relieved Amundson in the sixth.

Trailing 2-0 in the second, M-A tied the game when Amundson walked and scored on McGarry's booming ground-rule double to left. McGarry then scored on a perfectly executed run-down play, which was initiated by senior James Kollar-Gasiewski from first base. After Menlo took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third, M-A tied the game in the top of the fourth when Aguiar doubled to right, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on McGarry's sacrifice fly to center.

With the game still tied 3-3 in the top of the fifth, the Bears threatened to take the lead but were thwarted by a fine defensive play by the Knights. Leo McCabe led off with a walk, and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by outfielder Charlie Cain. Leadoff hitter Joos then smashed a line drive that looked as though it would score pinch-runner Randy Lopez. However, Menlo freshman second baseman Jared Lucian made a leaping snap of Joos' liner and tossed to shortstop Greenstein to double Lopez off second and end the inning.

Menlo then scored two runs in the home half of the fifth to take a lead that it maintained the rest of the way. The victory improved Menlo's season record to 2-1, while Menlo-Atherton is now 2-2.

In another tournament game, host Sacred Heart Prep (2-2) handed Woodside (0-4) a 5-4 loss.

Boys' golf
Bradley Knox fired an even-par 36 to earn medalist honors and pace Sacred Heart Prep to a 201-221 victory over Menlo-Atherton in a nonleague dual match at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club on Thursday.

Boys' lacrosse
Palo Alto opened its season with a 13-5 victory over visiting Mitty on Thursday night.

Facing the challenge of having the game staffed by 'replacement ref's -– the CCS Regional High School Sports governing body is still embroiled in a labor dispute with the Northern California Lacrosse Referee's Association over a new contract, their was a bit of uncertainty regarding how well the game would hold up with inexperienced referees. That concern proved to be ill-founded, as the referee team handled the game well, in the opinion of both squads.

Senior co-captain Jonny Glazier broke the Paly single-game scoring record with seven goals while Skyler Anderson added four plus an assist. The Vikings held a 6-2 halftime lead.

In the second half, Paly continued to extend its dominance over its West Catholic Athletic League rival, and the gap in experience and roster depth became clear. Glazier scored four times and Anderson three. Paly was able to retain possession constantly, and the experience and talent of a senior-heavy lineup showed in the victory.

Paly's defense, led by junior James Harrison, and two senior goalies -- Andre Kouchkey and Tyler Valenti -- were very strong in the game.

Paly is hoping to return to the SCVAL championship game this season after winning it all in 2010. The Vikings begin SCVAL De Anza Division play next Wednesday against defending champ Menlo-Atherton at Paly at 7 p.m.

At Woodside, Menlo-Atherton improved to 3-1 following a 14-3 victory over the Wildcats on Thursday. Duncan McGinnis led the Bears with five goals and one assist with Nick Schlein adding four goals and two assists. Philip Korolog contributed a pair of goals with Kotaro Kihira and Keifer O'Hara each adding one goal and two assists. Drew Uphoff added three assists and Chase Connell had seven saves in goal while Oliver Bucka and Nicky Mullen had solid defensive games.

Girls' lacrosse
Sacred Heart Prep won its second straight to open the season, posting a 13-0 nonleague victory over visiting Notre Dame-San Jose on Thursday. Brigid White led the Gators (2-0) with three goals while Liz Elder, Megan Lamb and Libby Muir all scored twice. Emma Johnson, Kiana Cacchione, Allison Harman and Ally Mayle all scored once for the Gators.

— Palo Alto Online Sports/Bob Moriarty on M-A baseball/Bill Glazier on Paly lacrosse

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