Saugus Beats Palmdale to Earn Share of Lead : Prep baseball: Centurions blow 4-0 lead but come back to beat Palmdale, 11-9.

Give the Saugus High baseball team credit. The Centurions are no longer the bullies of the Golden League, as they had been for the previous two seasons. But they might be more entertaining than ever.

Whether they’re winning or losing, the Centurions have made a habit of making things exciting this season.

On Friday, Saugus (11-7, 7-4 in league play) defeated host Palmdale, 11-9, in a Golden League game to move into a first-place tie with the Falcons.

The Centurions led, 4-0, after 2 1/2 innings. Then they trailed, 9-6, after five innings. Finally, they scored four runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.

But Palmdale wasn’t finished. The Falcons put runners at first and third with two out in the bottom of the seventh before Doug Maggiora (7-1), the Centurions’ third pitcher of the game, struck out Rodney Williams to end the contest.

“I’m very proud of the kids and the way they came back today,” Saugus Coach Doug Worley said. “It’s very satisfying to win that way. . . . But I don’t know what it is with this team. They have yet to play the kind of good, consistent baseball that they’re capable of this season.”

Perhaps not, but it sure keeps things interesting.

Saugus right fielder Jason Bates drove in what proved to be the winning run in the sixth, his one-out double scoring Josh Nolan to break a 9-9 tie. He also made the defensive play of the game when he gunned down Chris Tampoya at the plate to end the third inning, putting the brakes to a four-run Palmdale rally.

With the score tied, 4-4, and Tampoya at second with two out, Dan Salazar singled sharply to right. Bates unleashed a one-hop strike to catcher Mike Hogen, who tagged out Tampoya.

“I’m glad I got a chance to throw it,” said Bates, who also doubled and scored in the fifth. “I haven’t had a chance to throw anyone out at home this season, so it felt good.”

Palmdale (10-6 overall), which had split two previous games with Saugus this season, must have felt pretty good after piling up a 9-6 lead. But Saugus retaliated by knocking out Falcon starter Joe Garcia in the sixth, ultimately saddling reliever Tampoya (3-4) with the loss.

Brian Worley walked to start the sixth and came around to score on two wild pitches and Hogen’s infield single. Jayme Riggio (three for five, one run batted in and two runs scored) then singled Hogen to third, and, after Tampoya moved to the mound from left field, Nolan (two for four, two runs) singled in Hogen.

A stolen base and a wild pitch later, Bates delivered his game-winner.

“I really thought our (4-0) lead was going to hold up for the win,” Bates said. “But the wind really changed things.”