Century League : Rishovd’s Grand Slam Keys Tustin

Tustin High School pitcher Mike Rishovd hit a grand slam in the top of the fifth inning Friday to lead the Tillers to a 5-3, come-from-behind victory over El Modena in a Century League game played at the Vanguards’ field.

El Modena held a 3-0 lead when Tustin’s Eric Sherman and Mike Morehead reached base on singles. After an intentional walk to Steve Surico, Rishovd hit a home run to give the Tillers a 4-3 lead.

Tustin added a run in the sixth inning when, with runners on first and third, losing pitcher Chris Gallegos committed a balk, which allowed Morehead to score.

Rishovd pitched six innings, allowing five hits and striking out six, to earn the victory. He needed relief help from Surico, the Tillers’ ace. Surico entered the game with runners on first and second and no outs in the bottom of the seventh and retired the Vanguards on two ground outs and a strikeout.

El Modena built its 3-0 lead on the strength of Dion Espinoza, who homered in the second inning and hit a two-run single in the fourth.

In other Century League action:

Santa Ana 5, Foothill 1--Three Santa Ana pitchers--Tim Nelson, John Schilling and John Torrez--combined on a seven-hitter as the host Saints beat Foothill. Nelson went the first three innings to get the win, Schilling the next 2 and Torrez the the final 1 to earn a save. Three Santa Ana players, Shaun Sterling and Hector and Armando Olivares, each had two hits and Richard Tellez had a two-run single to cap a three-run Saint fifth inning. Santa Ana plays Canyon for first place on Tuesday.

Canyon 11, Orange 4--Canyon pounded Orange pitching for 12 hits en route to an easy win at Orange. Eric DeGraw led off the game with a home run and John Rothruss capped Canyon’s five-run first inning with a two-run double. DeGraw was 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs with 3 runs scored, Pete Webber was 3 for 3 with 2 doubles and a triple and Justin Mullinax was 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Wayne Elmore went the first four innings to get the win and John Cole took the loss.

Santa Ana Valley 7, Villa Park 4--The Falcons produced their biggest inning of the season to get their second win. Santa Ana Valley (2-6, 2-14) scored five runs in the fourth, three coming on Albert Caro’s bases-loaded triple. The Falcons scored twice in the first inning. After a lead off single Doug Rogers hit a RBI double. Rogers stole third and came home on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Lopez. Winning pitcher Ralph Dominguez struck out two. He was relieved by Jesus Chavez who got his first save.