One Very Bad Inning Spoils University’s Chances, 9-7

Bob Mangran, Saddleback High School baseball coach, was so moved by his team’s one-run lead over University in the fifth inning, that he turned to them and yelled, “Hey, let’s hit around this inning!”

However, the Roadrunners didn’t seem very excited or confident about their chances against the Trojans, who came into the game tied with Estancia for the Sea View League lead.

It’s been a long season for Saddleback.

Before the season started, Saddleback discovered one of Orange County’s top players, Leonard Damian, was leaving the Roadrunners to transfer to Canyon High. Without Damian, the Roadrunners, who made the playoffs last season, had won only three game as of two weeks ago. They’ve lost one-run games all season, which is enough to make players believe if something can go wrong, it will.

Although Saddleback wasn’t inspired, neither was University (5-2), which committed four errors in the fifth inning and allowed five unearned runs. The Roadrunners won the game, 9-7, Wednesday and righted a season that had seemingly gone all wrong.

“Earlier this year nobody gave us a chance,” Mangran said. “But with this win we’re 4-3 in league and in third place. We were losing so many close games in the begining of the year, it was hard for these kids to stay up.”

Perhaps touched by this tale of woe, the University defense self destructed. The Trojans commited eight errors and threw three wild pitches.

The Trojans were especially kind in the fifth inning. The University defensive play looked as if it were directed by Mack Sennett.

With two outs, Roadrunner starting pitcher Jeff Rowe reached base on an error by third baseman Mark Stride. After Myron Butler followed with a walk, shortstop Nick Santa Cruz hit his second home run of the season.

You’d think three unearned runs would be enough. But on this day the Trojan charity knew no bounds. Alex Arceo and Hector Cruz both reached on errors and number nine hitter Victor Rossano was walked on four pitches. With the bases loaded, Robert Ochoa finally hit a ball that a University fielder fielded cleanly. Trojan second baseman Gino Antano gloved the ball, planted to throw . . . and then fell on his chewing tobacco. One run scored as he fell. Another as he attempted in vain to get Ochoa at first.

“I know they (University) made a few mistakes, but our guys were always hustling to take advantage,” Mangran said. “They never quit. They just keep pouring it on and pushing the other team until they make a mistake.”

Saddleback got another run in the sixth, but University got three runs to close to, 9-6, going into the seventh.

It took only two pitches before the Trojans trailed by only two. Catcher Jeff Baker homered to left and the score was, 9-7. Brett Howard followed with a single but was thrown out attempting to steal second. The Trojans had stolen five consecutive bases against Saddleback before Howard’s attempt failed. After a walk and a single put runners at first and second, Mangran pulled Rowe and inserted senior Steve Delgado.

Delgado got Antano to hit into a fielders choice but walked to load the bases when he passed Steve Connors. But Delgado got his second save of the season when Dave Huegy hit into a force play at second base.

In other Sea View League action:

Newport Harbor 13, Woodbridge 2--Joey James’ two-run single sparked a four-run second inning that broke the game open at Woodbridge. Manny Adams and Chuck McGavran hit home runs for the Sailors (5-2, 9-8). Jeff Stoddard had a solo homer in the third for the Warriors (2-5, 6-9).

Laguna Beach 6, Corona del Mar 3--Freshman Danny Lane had a three-run double to help the Artists to the win at Laguna Beach. Rex Reasor had a solo homer in the Artists’ two-run first inning. Laguna Beach added four runs in the third. The Sea Kings scored all three runs in the fifth inning. In Angelus League action:

Bishop Amat 10, Mater Dei 4--The Lancers upset previously unbeaten Mater Dei at Bishop Amat. The Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in Orange County, led, 4-0, after the first inning, but gave up two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to trail, 6-4.

Mike Gorman led off the fifth with a triple and then scored on a throwing error to give the Lancers (6-2 in league) the lead for good. Mario Torres singled home the other run in the fifth for Bishop Amat, which scored four in the sixth to seal the victory. Torres led the Lancers’ 12-hit attack with a 3 for 4 day, including three singles. Three Lancers had two hits each.

In other Angelus League action:

St. Paul 8, Servite 1--The Swordsmen (3-5 league) took the lead on a two-run third inning and never gave it up en route to a victory over the Friars (4-4) at Servite. The Friars’ only run came in the seventh on an Everett Musselman home run.

In Freeway League action:

Sunny Hills 4, Sonora 1--Pitcher Paul Abbott won his seventh game of the season as the Lancers (8-0 in league) defeated the Raiders (3-5), 4-1 at Sonora. Abbott also scored the Lancers’ first run off a David Wackerman RBI in the second innning.

Buena Park 8, La Habra 2--The Coyotes trailed, 2-0, after four innings, but scored two in the fifth and six in the seventh to pull out the win at La Habra. Buena Park had just two hits in the seventh. The big one was a two-run single by Reggie Brown. Five players had two hits each in the 12-hit Coyote offense.

Fullerton 7, Troy 2--Erik Silvey was 2 for 3 with a single and a three-run homer to lead the Indians to the win at Troy. Silvey also pitched all seven innings and had five strikeouts and gave up just five hits.

In Garden Grove League action:

La Quinta 13, Rancho Alamitos 0--The second-ranked Aztecs, led by the pitching of Steve Hunt and the hitting of Troy Paulsen breezed at La Quinta. Hunt had 10 strikeouts and just one walk in six innings, as the Aztec pitching gave up just two hits. Paulsen was 3 for 5 and had a two-run homer in the sixth for La Quinta (14-2).

Bolsa Grande 9, Los Amigos 7--Brian Howe’s bases-loaded triple keyed a five-run fourth inning led the Matadors to the win at Los Amigos. The Matadors’ trailed, 5-1, coming into their big fourth inning. Bolsa is 5-3 and 7-10 and Los Amigos is 2-6 and 6-10. Ralph Ramirez led the Lobo attack with two homers. He was 3 for 4 and had four RBIs and also was the Lobo’ starting pitcher.

Garden Grove 13, Santiago 6--Pitcher Tim Gjertsen singled in two runs in the bottom of the fifth, sparking an 11-run fifth inning scoring flurry as the Argonauts rallied from a 6-1 deficit to take the victory. The Cavaliers rotated in three pitchers in the bottom of the fifth inning, but couldn’t stop the Argonauts.

In South Coast League action:

Laguna Hills 11, Irvine 3--First baseman Howard Gasser was 3 for 5, including a solo home run in the fifth inning to lead the Hawks to the victory at Irvine. Steve Festerman was 2 for 3 with three RBIs as the Hawks (4-2, 12-7) outhit the Vaqueros, 15-4. Pitcher Wayne Helm worked five innings, giving up just three hits, earning his seventh win against one loss.

Mission Viejo 12, San Clemente 1--An eight-run third inning gave the Diablos the winning edge in their 12-1 victory over the Tritons at Mission Viejo. Winning pitcher Sean Campbell (4-1) sparked the third inning scoring streak with a home run and two RBIs. Campbell was 3 for 5 with three RBIs. Senior left fielder Ray Reinders also went 3 for 5 with three RBIs, including two RBIs in the third.

El Toro 6, Capistrano Valley 4--Scott Shockey’s two-run double in the sixth inning drove lifted the Chargers at El Toro. Shockey’s double was the big hit in a four-run sixth inning that rallied the Chargers, who trailed, 3-2, at that point. He later scored on Brian Young’s single.

Shockey boosted his Orange County-leading RBI total to 29 with his two Wednesday.

Richard Faulks pitched all seven innings for the Chargers (5-1 in South Coast League action and 12-8 overall). Faulks gave up six hits and three walks, improving his record to 5-4.

In Sunset League action:

Fountain Valley 5, Westminster 1--The Barons took a three-run lead in the first inning to defeat the Lions, 5-1 in Sunset League action at Westminster.