SARATOGA -- West Valley starting pitching continued its best stretch of the season, and the Vikings got home runs from Parker Kristall and Jordan Montez, but the bullpen faltered down the stretch and a late rally came short in the Vikings' conference home opener.

The Vikings (14-7, 0-2 Coast-South) dropped the overall conference opener on the road in Monterey on Tuesday, and fell again to the Lobos at home. Early in last years' conference slate, it seemed that Cabrillo had the Vikings' number. After two conference games, the Lobos (15-7, 2-0 Coast-South) appear to be the Vikings' kryptonite. In the first conference game of the season, Monterey Peninsula pitching held West Valley scoreless, the first time it had been held scoreless since last February against Marin, in a 1-0 defeat for the Vikings. West Valley took an early game two lead, but couldn't hold on, falling 6-5.

Tre LaGrone III got the starting nod for the Vikings, and against UCLA-commit Fabio Bundi, LaGrone was up for the challenge. The lefty absolutely decimated the Monterey Peninsula lineup, setting the Lobos down 1-2-3 in the first inning while freezing MPC shortstop Jackson Fox on a 3-2 pitch. Bundi allowed a one-out single to Parker Kristall, but after a flyout from David Estrada, Kristall was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

The first real threat for either side came in the third inning, when Lobos' nine-place hitter Jayden Kim doubled down the left field line. But LaGrone, who had a rough start just a couple weeks ago but has completely rounded into form since, struck out Fox again before Pedro Ibarra grounded out to West Valley shortstop Bobby Hill. MPC got its leadoff hitter on for the second time in the ballgame in the fourth, but LaGrone coaxed a popup and a 6-4-3 double play turned perfectly by the Vikings to get some momentum in the Vikings' dugout.

West Valley used that momentum, with Kristall taking an 0-1 pitch and hammering it to the opposite field, clearing the fence for his team-high eighth home run of the year. Just one batter later, Jordan Montez sat on a 2-2 breaker and pounded it to left-center for his seventh home run of the year.

Kristall has been arguably the Vikings' best hitter this year, but he has been on another level of late. Over the last month, he's hitting .439 with six doubles and four home runs to help an up-and-down Vikings offense.

On the other side, LaGrone set down the Lobos in order, picking up his fourth strikeout in the process. After two quick outs in the bottom half of the fifth, a Max Ghiglieri double and Joey Damelio walk teed things up for Kristall, who mauled a couple of pitches foul before grounding out to end the inning.

LaGrone used some help from his defense in the top of the sixth to get out of a self-inflicted jam. After striking out Kim, he hit Fox at the top of the order. Catcher Andrew Bonfigli promptly threw him out trying to take second on a picture perfect throw, one of the best from the Vikings this season. LaGrone followed by beaning Ibarra, but he got Andrew Wasilchuk to strike out swinging to end the frame.

Overall, LaGrone III dazzled over six innings of scoreless, one-hit ball, striking out six. 

Danger struck in the seventh, however, when Hunter Olson came in and hit two of the first three batters he faced. Pinch-hitter Noah Piona hit a potential double play ball to second, but Colston couldn't field it cleanly as the bases were full for Rey Avila. After starting his day 0-for-2, Avila punched one down the right field line to score a pair and even up the score. Kim followed against new pitcher Apolo Lapiz with a sacrifice fly to give the Lobos their first lead.

That success continued in the eighth, as Lapiz allowed a leadoff single to Wasilchuk but got Ethan Jackson to strike out swinging. Following a long, 3-2 battle, Kaleb Shannon demlolished a hanger over the fence in left-center, his fifth homer of the season, in what felt like the dagger.

Now on the mound, Kristall allowed the first three batters to reach in the top of the ninth before striking out a pair. Not out of the woods yet, Shannon was hit by a pitch to bring home MPC's sixth run. Coming into the game for his season debut, Jordan Jackson got Christopher Martinez to fly out to end the frame.

Still, credit to West Valley, which pushed back with a three-spot in the bottom of the ninth. After Colston struck out, Ghighlieri singled and Damelio and Kristall walked to load the bases. Kristall came home on a wild pitch, and after David Estrada walked, Montez grounded out to third to bring home his second run of the day. Bonfigli followed with a walk, and a walk from Eric Altmark brought the tying run to third base. But Hill popped out to left to end the threat, and give the Lobos their second conference win of the year.

With the victory of the three-game set already in hand favoring the Lobos, West Valley returns to Monterey to finish the series as the Vikings try to salvage a win tomorrow at 2:30.