Prep Baseball : Connolly’s Single Gives Katella Win Over El Dorado

Mike Connolly singled with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to drive in Phil Axtell and give Katella High School a 2-1 win over El Dorado in an Empire League opener Tuesday at Boysen Park.

Connolly’s game-winner gave El Dorado pitcher Jeff Petredes his first loss of the season. Petredes went the distance, striking out six and walking one. Jerry George got the complete-game win for Katella, striking out five and walking one.

Tim Goff drove in El Dorado’s only run, tripling to score Petredes in the top of the second. Katella tied it with a run in the bottom of the fourth.

In other Empire League action:

Pacifica 5, Loara 2--The Mariners (1-0) scored three runs in the seventh to win the game. With the score tied at 2, losing pitcher Tim Hopper (3-1) intentionally walked the bases loaded with two outs but then threw a wild pitch to allow Dave Brodt to score the go-ahead run. Pacifica scored two more runs on Tony Derosa’s single.

Loara had runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh but Pacifica turned a game-ending double play. Toby Christopher went all the way for Pacifica to earn the win.

Esperanza 4, Los Alamitos 1--Senior right-hander David Salcido improved his record to 3-1 with a five-hitter at Esperanza. Salcido struck out seven and walked one. Greg Yarber and Tom Remington had one RBI each for Esperanza (1-0, 4-4). Travis Tarchione homered in the sixth for Los Alamitos’ only run.

Cypress 12, Kennedy 8--Wade Brandenberger, Kevin Black and Al Agirre combined for six hits and six RBIs to lead the Centurions’ 14-hit attack at Cypress. Kevin Harper was 2 for 4 with a 3-run homer for Cypress (1-0, 5-4) and Eric Krivashei was 3 for 5. Mike Cote (2-0) got the win.

Glenn Mares had a grand slam for Kennedy in the fourth inning and finished the game 2 for 4.

SUNSET LEAGUE

Huntington Beach 6, Westminster 4--Mark Rassmussen and Darrin Tomasick had run-scoring singles in the top of the eighth and the Oilers held on for the win at Westminster. David Grace had a two-run homer for Huntington Beach (1-1, 6-4), his third of the season.

Ocean View 3, Edison 1--Rudy Taub took a one-hitter into the sixth inning before settling for the four-hit, complete-game victory at Ocean View. Edison was threatening in the top of the seventh, with runners on second and third and one run in, but Taub struck out Rick Justice to end it. Tom Smythe’s two-run single in the third was the big hit for Ocean View (1-1, 7-2).

CENTURY LEAGUE

El Modena 4, Tustin 2--Cory Ahart broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run double in the fifth inning and Chris Gallego followed with a run-scoring single to give the Vanguards the win in the league opener at Tustin. Gallego and Cesar Madrid had two hits each for El Modena (1-0, 4-4). Steve Surico took the loss for Tustin.

Canyon 12, Orange 3--Steve Milledge and Pete Weber homered to key a six-run second inning as the host Comanches rolled to their seventh straight win. Milledge finished the day 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Weber was 2 for 3 and has seven hits in his last eight at-bats.

Wayne Elmore worked the first six innings to record the win. Kevin Taylor, Eric DeGraw and Leonard Damian had two hits each for Canyon, which had 14 hits in all. Orange scored all three of its runs in the seventh inning.

Villa Park 2, Santa Ana Valley 0--Pat Glenn’s two-run homer in the first inning was all the support Villa Park pitcher Brian Raum needed in leading the host Spartans to their first win of the season.

Raum allowed just two hits, struck out five and walked two.

OLYMPIC LEAGUE

Capistrano Valley Christian 9, Valley Christian 6--Greg Thomas had a grand slam in the first inning and Bobby Stevens was 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs to lead the Eagles to the win in San Juan Capistrano. Pete Gervasi got the complete-game win for the Eagles (1-0, 5-1), striking out nine and walking three.

Orange Lutheran 7, Ontario Christian 3--Mike Utke was 3 for 4 with a double, triple and 3 RBIs and was the winning pitcher at Ontario. Mike Amling had a two-run homer in the first for Orange Lutheran.

ACADEMY LEAGUE

California Lutheran 3, Newport Christian 2--An unearned run in the top of the sixth gave the Knights the win in Costa Mesa. Andrew Mahnke had nine strikeouts and seven walks in recording his first victory. Joe Alston got the loss, despite striking out 10.