HIGH SCHOOL CLOSE-UPS

BASEBALL

ANDREW MONTES

Junior, Azusa

Then: He played first base, third base and some outfield his first season on varsity as a freshman. The next season, Montes moved to catcher and began pitching. After injuring his ankle during a collision at home plate, he switched back to the infield and hasn’t played catcher since. Azusa struggled to score last season. In his final start, Montes lost to Montclair, 2-1, in the wild-card round of the Southern Section Division IV playoffs.

Now: He earned the win or save in 11 of his team’s first 12 victories. Montes began the week 8-0 with three saves and a 1.23 earned-run average, as well as 50 strikeouts and only four walks in 57 innings. He also was batting .354 with a team-high 17 runs batted in. After beginning the season with consecutive one-hitters in five-inning victories over Industry Workman and La Puente, he followed with a four-hit, 2-1 victory over Covina Gladstone. In his best effort of the season, he gave up one hit and no earned runs in a 4-1 victory over Fullerton Troy last month.

Quote: “His goal at the beginning of the season was to go 10-0,” Coach Brian DeHaan said. “When he said that, I believed he would do it, but to see it come to fruition is really special.”

-- Dan Arritt

SOFTBALL

LINDSEY UBRUN

Senior, Riverside Poly

Then: Ubrun arrived as a first baseman with a good arm and solid defensive skills, but her aggressiveness led to injury, and she sat out six games in her freshman and sophomore seasons. Still, she batted .337 and .320, respectively. Injury-free as a junior, Ubrun finished with a .348 average and nine RBIs. Her only two hits of the playoffs were a game-deciding RBI double in the eighth inning of a 3-1 victory over Santa Ana Mater Dei in the Division I semifinal and a fifth-inning homer in a 1-0 victory over Los Alamitos to give Poly its first championship. It was her first homer in high school.

Now: The four-year starter has made a smooth transition to third base. Ubrun is batting .357 with 17 runs and 21 RBIs, five homers and a team-high .686 slugging average. Saturday in the Thousand Oaks tournament, she helped beat the hosts with a three-run homer in the eighth inning. Poly will play Long Beach Millikan on Saturday in a tournament semifinal. Ubrun has hit safely in 14 of the last 16 games, and Poly can win its fourth Ivy League title in a row with a victory today at Riverside Arlington.

Quote: “She has been on fire all season. I never thought she could keep it up all year,” Coach Eddie Jones said. “I hope I don’t jinx her.”

-- Martin Henderson

BOYS’ TENNIS

ANDY GERST

Senior, Redondo

Then: He has been on the varsity for all four years, playing No. 1 or No. 2 singles and contributing in doubles when needed. After posting a 30-14 record in sets as a freshman, he went 62-4 as a sophomore and helped the Seahawks to the Southern Section Division IV finals. Going 58-4 last year, he led Redondo to the division title. Gerst and Redondo teammate Nick Berger won the boys’ 18 doubles title at the Southern California Junior Sectional Championships last November. He and Berger defeated Redondo teammates Jon Vlasach and Logan Bailey for the Southern Section doubles title in June.

Now: Gerst has used natural quickness and an exceptional return of serve to go 54-1 as Redondo (18-2, 8-2) has made a successful step up to Division I. His only loss was a 7-5 decision to West Torrance’s Jason Jung last week. Redondo’s only defeats have come against Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula. Gerst and Berger advanced to the Interscholastic doubles semifinals of the Ojai tournament two weeks ago. Gerst will play tennis at Washington next season.

Quote: “I told him, ‘You’ve got to be able to win and lose, and lead the team in both situations,’ ” Coach Jim Ball said. “And he has.”

-- Lauren Peterson