Prep Baseball : Katella Breaks Its Hitting Slump

Katella High School broke a slump in a big way by collecting 25 hits and scoring 28 runs in a doubleheader sweep over Foothill Thursday in nonleague baseball action at Santa Ana.

Katella scored eight runs in the fourth inning to break a scoreless pitching duel and gained a 14-2 victory in the first game. Then, the Knights doubled their pleasure in the nightcap with a 14-7 rout.

The sweep improved Katella’s record to 3-2 in its final tuneup before it opens Empire League play next Tuesday against favored El Dorado. Foothill fell to 3-4.

Shortstop John Paboojian, left fielder Todd Lloyd and designated hitter Mike Connolly provided most of the punch for the Knights. Paboojian went 5 for 9 and drove in five runs, Lloyd was 4 for 7 with three runs and three RBIs and and Connolly was 4 for 7.

Lloyd had the key hit in Katella’s eight-run inning in the opener, drilling a three-run double that hit the left-field fence. Katella sent 22 batters to the plate in the fourth and fifth innings of the first game, scoring 12 runs on 12 hits and 6 walks.

Katella continued the onslaught in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the first inning and then sealing the win with five in the third. First baseman Steve Bennett belted a grand slam in the third inning and ended the day with eight RBIs.

Only one Foothill player, center fielder Stacy Parker, managed to match Katella’s hitting. He had five hits, including a double and a triple.

The teams had been going in different directions coming into the doubleheader. While Foothill had played well en route to the championship game of the Tustin Tournament, Katella made a quick exit from the Loara Tournament.

“We were picked eighth in the county by one newspaper in a preseason poll and then lost two quick games in the tournament,” Katella rookie Coach Tim McMenamin said. “We didn’t play that bad, but two of our starters (third baseman Omar DeChavez and Bennett) were still playing basketball.

“I think we’re a pretty good club that played well this summer. We practiced all of last week after the two losses and now we’ve beaten Anaheim and Foothill. I think we’ve snapped out of our slump. We sure pounded the ball today.”

In other nonleague action:

El Toro 9, University 0--Nick Adams, Scott Perkins and Richard Faulks combined on a four-hitter to lead the Chargers to the win at University. Frank Appice was 2 for 2 with two walks and scored three runs and Brian Young had a two-run homer for the Chargers (5-3).