Prep Baseball : Damian Has Home Run Bug in Canyon Win

Canyon High School’s Leonard Damian had quite an encore Tuesday afternoon, hitting two home runs and driving in four runs to lead the Comanches to a 9-0 rout over El Modena in Century League play.

Last week, Damian pitched a no-hitter in one game and hit two homers in another to lead Canyon to the championship of the Anaheim Tournament. But he also managed to contract the flu over the weekend and decided to skip his pitching assignment, serving as a designated hitter against El Modena.

There certainly was nothing wrong with 6-foot 1-inch, 205-pound senior as far as batting was concerned. He stroked an outside slider over the right field fence in the third inning to give Canyon a 3-0 lead and followed with a two-run homer over the center field fence in the fifth inning to pad the Comanche lead to 6-0.

“I still don’t feel very well,” Damian said. “I haven’t felt good all week. I was just hoping that I could do something to help the team. But I really feel lousy.”

Damian’s big day gave him 5 homers and 15 RBIs for the season. He’s batting .341 and also has a 5-1 record with 41 strikeouts when he’s healthy enough to go to the mound.

“I really prefer pitching,” he said. “I’ll just have to see how I feel on Friday and before I decide whether to pitch or not.”

El Modena (1-3-1 in league, 6-8-1 overall) hit starting pitcher Wayne Elmore (3-1) hard but failed to score. The Vanguards had seven hits but wasted two scoring opportunities that ended with runners being thrown out at the plate and third base.

Canyon (3-1-1, 11-2-1), was outstanding defensively. The Comanches outfield--Eric DeGraw, Pete Weber and Steve Milledge--is one of the county’s best units. Weber threw out a runner at home in the fifth inning, Milledge cut down a runner trying to go from first to third on a single in the seventh and DeGraw went 3 for 3 at the plate.

“We played a game today that any coach would have been proud of defensively,” said Hi Lavalle, canyon coach. “I gave the kids a couple of days off last week and I was concerned how we would play today. We’ve been so sharp lately that you really don’t want to take any time off, but it was spring break.

“I’ve said about six times that I’ve got the best outfield around. When it comes to getting to the ball, catching it and throwing it, there isn’t a better group around.”

In Century League action:

Santa Ana 15, Orange 5--The Saints’ 20-hit attack overwhelmed the Panthers in a game at Orange. Four Santa Ana players--Richard Tellez, Hector Olivares, Brian Flores and Armando Olivares--had three hits apiece.

Tim Nelson (1-0) picked up the win in relief. Chris Lacascia hit a two-run homer in the third inning for Orange.

Santa Ana improved its record to 5-0 in league and 13-2 overall. Orange fell to 2-3 in league. The Saints host Villa Park on Friday.

Foothill 13, Santa Ana Valley 3--Chris Cutliff led the Knights by going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs at Santa Ana Valley. Mike Pope (2-1) picked up the win for the Knights.

Foothill (7-9 and 2-3) hosts Canyon Friday.

Tustin 12, Villa Park 5--Mike Morehead hit a three-run homer to right-center field in the fifth inning to pace the Tillers’ victory at Tustin. Morehead went 2 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Steve Surico (5-2) got the win for Tustin.

Tustin raised its league record to 1-3-1, and Villa Park fell to 3-1-1. The Tillers are at Orange on Friday.

In Orange League action:

Savanna 2, Anaheim 0--The Rebels picked up their runs in the fourth and fifth innings, the latter coming on Robert Brocki’s solo home run, to down the Colonists at Glover Stadium.

Robert Lee picked up the win for Savanna, which plays Brea at Glover Stadium today.

Brea-Olinda 13, Magnolia 2--Mike Oziminski went 2 for 4 including a home run to lead the Wildcats’ romp at Brea.

David Kain (2-3-1) struck out six batters and threw a five-hitter to record the win.

Brea improved its record to 3-2 in league and 5-7 overall. The Wildcats meet Western at Glover Stadium today.

In South Coast League action:

Irvine 12, Capo Valley 7--The Vaqueros dumped the Cougars in a South Coast League game at Capistrano Valley. Tommy Adams hit a two-run homer in a losing cause for Capistrano Valley. Irvine improved its league record to 2-2, and Capistrano Valley fell to 1-3.

In Freeway League action:

Sonora 10, La Habra 1--Mike McClaran threw a four-hitter and struck out eight at Sonora. Rob Stewart went 2 for 4 and had two RBIs to lead the Raiders.

Sonora (2-3, 7-7) is at Fullerton today.

In Olympic League action:

Whittier Christian 5, Orange Lutheran 1--Tim Wharton hit a double and a home run at Orange Lutheran to pace the victory. Kevin Chavez (4-1) picked up the win. Mike Utke hit a solo home run for Lutheran in the seventh inning.

Brethren 7, Capistrano Valley Christian 5--Darren Whitney had three RBIs to pace Brethren’s win at Blair Field in Long Beach. Joe Hunter was the winning pitcher.

In Academy League action:

Heritage 9, Leffingwell Christian 1--Junior right-hander Daren Beck pitched a complete-game six-hitter as the Patriots handed the Lions their first league loss in Norwalk. Terry Grabau was 3 for 4 with four RBIs for Heritage (3-2, 6-3).