Prep Baseball : Dana Hills Loses Homer but Wins Game, 4-2

Although Dana Hills High School had a home run taken away on a controversial call Friday afternoon, the power-hitting Dolphins were still able to beat Laguna Hills, 4-2, in a South Coast Conference game at Laguna Hills.

David Kirkpatrick hit a two-run home run in the third inning to give Dana Hills a 3-1 lead. Teammate Scott Hefner then followed Kilpatrick’s homer by hitting a ball over the center-field fence, but his run was not allowed by home plate umpire Max Pinuelas when Pinuelas ruled Hefner was assisted rounding third base by Dolphin Coach Bob Canary.

“I gave him a handshake like I give every player a handshake when he hits a home run,” Canary said. “I didn’t do anything more than that. I’m just glad we didn’t lose because of that call.”

Hefner, who was credited with a triple for that at-bat, hit another ball over the fence in his next time up for Dana Hills’ third and final home run of the day. Ed Esteban, who hit Dana Hills’ first home run with the bases-empty in the first inning, pitched a complete game, allowing four hits to get the win. Jay Christensen went all the way for Laguna Hills and took the loss.

In other South Coast Conference action:

El Toro 8, San Clemente 0--Senior left-hander Nick Adams limited San Clemente to four hits in shutting out the Tritons at San Clemente. Brian Yount led first-place El Toro by going 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs, and Doug Barron and Mike Gonzalez each added two hits.

Irvine 8, Mission Viejo 4--A five-run Vaquero fourth inning broke open what had been a close game at Irvine. Leading 3-2 after three, Irvine (3-2, 12-6) got five hits in the inning, including a two-run home run by first baseman Bobby Hamlin (2 for 4, two RBIs). Senior pitcher Steve Lipton went all the way for the Vaqueros, striking out five. Bob Brucato and Sean Campbell both went 2 for 4 for Mission Viejo.

Santa Ana 7, Villa Park 6--The first-place Saints scored four runs in the fifth to break open a 3-3 tie and went on to beat the Spartans at Santa Ana. John Torres led the Santa Ana offense with two hits and three RBIs. Armando Olivares went 3 for 3, and Shaun Sterling went 2 for 3. John Shilling went the distance for the Saints, allowing four earned runs, to get the win and improve his record to 6-0.

Canyon 7, Foothill 2--Comanche pitcher Leonard Damian (6-1) continued an impressive season, striking out 14 and allowing just four hits. The 6-1 senior also got Canyon’s first run with his sixth home run of the season in the second inning. The Comanches, leading 3-2 after four innings, increased their lead with four runs in the fifth, two coming on center fielder Pete Weber’s double. Foothill center fielder Stacy Parker was 2 for 4.

Tustin 8, Orange 1--Leadoff man Jim O’Connell went 3 for 3 with four runs scored, and Mike Morehead went 3 for 5 with five RBIs to lead the Tillers past the Panthers at Orange. Mike Rishovd went the first four innings to get the win while Steve Surico, who was 2 for 4 at the plate, pitched the final three.

El Modena 10, Santa Ana Valley 0--In a night game called after five innings because of dense fog, the Vanguards routed the Falcons behind the one-hit pitching of Chris Gallego. Gallego allowed only a lead-off bunt single to Albert Caro, struck out nine and walked three. Corey Ahart led the Vanguard offense by going 2 for 2 with two RBIs, and Ed Luna went 2 for 3 with one RBI.

Sonora 8, Buena Park 4--The Raiders rallied from a 4-1 deficit in the sixth inning to beat the Coyotes at Buena Park and move into a second-place tie with Troy. Sonora scored three runs in the sixth, the final two on Greg Smedley’s single, to tie the score, 4-4. Then Sonora added four more in the seventh to win. Two runs scored on Dennis Brakebill’s double, one on Brian Miller’s double and one on Ron Lesperance’s steal of home. Scott Rajcic pitched three innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits, to get the win.

La Habra 12, Fullerton 4--Chuck Weatherspoon was 3 for 4 with one RBI to lead the Highlanders to the win at Fullerton. Eric Silvey hit a two-run homer for the Indians in the third inning.

Garden Grove 13, Bolsa Grande 3--The Argonauts totaled 11 runs in the first and second innings to easily defeat the Matadors. Garden Grove (5-2, 7-7) scored five runs in the first, two on right fielder Mark Keifer’s triple. The Argonauts scored six times in the second inning. After loading the bases, Garden Grove got a run when first baseman Jerry Canada was walked. Designated hitter Tim Gjertsen followed with a two-run single. Gjertsen was 2 for 2 with two RBIs.

Santiago 5, Rancho Alamitos 1--Cavalier pitcher Trinidad Cisneros won his third consecutive game, striking out seven. Cisneros gave up his only run in the first, but Santiago quickly countered in the second when right fielder Harvey Cotton led off with a home run. Designated hitter Rick Burns scored later in the inning to put the Cavaliers ahead. They solidified their lead with three runs in the third, two coming on a home run by first baseman Anthony Cardelas.

La Quinta 6, Los Amigos 3--The first-place Aztecs took advantage of the wildness of Los Amigos’ pitching to win this night game in Mile Square Park at Fountain Valley. Los Amigos gave up eight walks and hit three La Quinta batters. Rich Boren went all the way to get the win for the Aztecs and improved his record to 5-0. Kenny Luckham took the loss for Los Amigos.

Valencia 4, Savanna 0--Senior right-hander Steve Street allowed only three hits and did not walk a batter in shutting out host Savanna. Street, who struck out four, improved his record to 4-0. Jon Rice led the Valencia offense by going 2 for 4 with a triple and a double.

Western 1, Magnolia 0--David Tellers allowed only two hits and shut out Magnolia in a night game in Glover Stadium at Anaheim. Tellers (7-1) now has three shutouts on the season and has not allowed an earned run in 31 innings. Western scored the only run of the game in the first inning when Chris Chase tripled and scored on a wild pitch by losing pitcher Don Woodburn.

Brea-Olinda 4, Anaheim 2--The Wildcats, behind 2-0, scored four runs in the sixth inning to rally and beat the Colonists at Brea. Scott Shirey had the key hit, a two-run single. Fred Camarena pitched four innings of relief to get the win.

University 9, Laguna Beach 6--The Artists scored four runs in the first inning and had collected six runs and seven hits in the first three innings off University starting pitcher Tom Staff. But Trojan relief pitcher Clayton Walker was inserted in the fourth inning and held Laguna Beach to just four hits as University broke a 6-6 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. University took advantage of two Artists errors in that inning. Walker (1-0) struck out four batters and allowed only two hits in three innings of work to get the win.

Saddleback 10, Corona del Mar 9--The Sea Kings broke out to an 8-0 lead in the first three innings, collecting six hits and four walks. However, the Roadrunners scored six times in the bottom of the third on seven hits. Saddleback starting pitcher Steve Delgado got a two-run single in that inning. Delgado’s replacement on the mound, Alfonso Rossaro, allowed Corona del Mar just four hits and one run in four innings of work. Rossaro (1-1) earned the win. Saddleback tied the score with two runs in the fourth and won it when Joey Medina scored on a single by Robert Ochoa in the seventh.

Estancia 5, Woodbridge 4--The Eagles got a double and single in the ninth inning and beat the Warriors at Estancia. Matt Hatfield was the winning pitch, while Marc Fertig took the loss.