CHULA VISTA -- When the Poway High baseball team scrimmaged Cathedral Catholic just a few weeks ago, the Titans pounded the Dons all over the place.

"That was their day," Cathedral Catholic coach Gary Remiker said.

The Dons rebounded in a big way, rolling to a 14-6 victory over the Titans in the finals of the Hilltop Tournament at Hilltop High. The win also avenged Cathedral Catholic's loss to Poway in last year's tournament championship game.

Click here for boxscore

The Dons, who have seven players headed to Division I college programs next season, stretched four hits into eight first-inning runs against the Titans.

"Today was our day," Remiker said. "Playing quality teams like Poway is the reason we play in the tournament every year.

"There have been years where we were 1-4 against the big boys, but we were ready for league play and the playoffs."

Cathedral Catholic (6-0) took Poway (5-1) out of the game with a bizarre first-inning outburst that included three walks, one stolen base and four hit batters. The Dons sent 14 batters against three of Poway's six pitchers for the game.

Officially, Dons leadoff man Matt Moynihan never batted, but he scored twice. Parker Hipp tripled in a run and drove in a second run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

"I know we're a better team all-around," Hipp said. "We didn't talk about losing last year's tournament finals to Poway or the scrimmage. But the seniors, who are 0-2 in this tournament finals, just wanted to win this championship once.

"For today, at least, we're the best team in the county."

Moynihan finished 2-for-3 with four runs. Hipp and Casey Husband were 2-for-2.

Seven of the Dons' nine starters had at least one hit to back junior left-handed pitcher Danny Tyson, who is 2-0 after going five innings.

"We took the scrimmage seriously because it was a wake-up call," Hipp said. "It was tough to swallow a beating like that, but it showed we had work to do."

Only Poway first baseman Josh Anderson played as if he was still scrimmaging the Dons. The junior was 3-for-3 with two solo home runs. That makes him 6-for-6 with a double and four home runs in his last two games.

"Guess we weren't ready to play," said Poway coach Bob Parry, shrugging. "They were ready to play and have a lineup that scares you.

"This game started at 10:30 (a.m.), and if you got here at 10:45, it was already over."

Contact staff writer Terry Monahan at (760) 739-6648 or tmonahan@nctimes.com.