Prep Baseball : Edison Only Gets 3 Hits as Ocean View Wins, 1-0

Ocean View High School pitchers Craig Anderson and Brett Johnson combined to limit Edison to only three hits as the surprising Seahawks remained in first place in the Sunset League with a 1-0 victory Tuesday.

Anderson improved his record to 6-1, and Johnson retired all six of the batters he faced in relief as the Seahawks improved their record to 8-4 in the six-team league and 16-6 overall. Edison, the preseason favorite, fell to 6-6 and 15-9.

The Seahawks scored the only run of the game in the second inning. Center fielder Mike Abascal slid under the tag of Edison catcher Brad Johnson on a single to center by designated hitter Jeff Sherwood.

Abascal appeared to be an easy out on the play after shortstop Jeff Kent made a perfect relay throw to Johnson, but Abascal’s hook slid eluded the Charger catcher. Abascal’s winning run was unearned after he reached safely on Charger third baseman Mark Miller’s error. Edison starter Chip DaMato was the hard-luck loser despite allowing only three hits.

The Chargers’ only scoring threat came in the third inning when they loaded bases with only one out. Kent led off the inning with a double and DaMato followed with a walk. Second baseman Dave Solarzano followed with an infield single, but the Chargers’ rally ended when Miller hit into a double play.

“This was a good high school game played by two teams that didn’t make many mistakes,” Seahawk Coach Bill Gibbons said. “The only mistake ended up costing them the game. We’ve been lucky to win a lot of one-run games this season.”

The Seahawks’ league season was almost over before it started. Ocean View had a 1-4 record and was dwelling in the cellar at the spring break when Gibbons inserted Blaine DeBrouwer at catcher, moved Tim Tembreull to first base, elevated Sherwood from the junior varsity team and moved Johnson to the bullpen.

The lineup changes, coupled with the outstanding defensive play by shortstop David Tinkle, has been instrumental in Ocean View’s seven-game winning streak and rapid climb to the top of the league standings.

In other Sunset League action:

Huntington Beach 4, Westminster 2--Senior Doug Euper came on in relief of starter Ed Lidyoff in the bottom of the third. The right-handed reliever struck out one batter to end a Westminster’s rally, which had tied the game at 2-2. Huntington Beach scored two runs in the following inning for the win at Westminster.

The Oilers (7-5 and 12-8) had 10 hits. They were led by Mark Rassmussen, who was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Teammate Greg Chizek was 2 for 3 with two runs, and Darrin Tomasick was 2 for 4. Euper (2-0) pitched 3 innings to get the win.

The Lions (3-8-1 and 6-12-1) had five hits on the game and committed four errors. Pitcher John Gonzalez (1-3) pitched a complete game in a losing effort.

In Empire League action:

Katella 7, Loara 5--The Saxons scored two runs in the last inning and even brought the winning run to the plate before falling short against the league leaders at Katella.

The Knights’ leading hitters were Todd Lloyd, who had a triple, Dave Lewis with a two-run double, and Phil Axtell with two hits. Winning pitcher Jerry George (8-2) of Katella (9-2, 15-5) gave up eight hits while going the distance.

Jeff Patterson also threw a complete game for the Saxons (5-6) and took the loss. Loara’s Brian Roberts, Rich Bravo, and Carlos Vargas each contributed two hits.

Esperanza 5, El Dorado 3--The Aztecs became the first league team to defeat the Hawks’ new pitcher, Missouri transfer Scott Holcomb (2-1). Holcomb gave up just three hits in his 4 innings, but the Aztecs prevailed for their ninth-straight victory.

Greg Haskell was credited with the victory for Esperanza, going the distance and giving up six hits. Kevin Clancy had three RBIs for Esperanza (14-7, 9-2).

The Golden Hawks (4-7, 11-9) scored all their runs in the fourth inning. Shortstop Bret Boone was 3 for 3, and Chris Saito drove in a run.

Los Alamitos 11, Kennedy 8--Robbie Katzaroff extended his hitting streak to 23 games as the Griffins (7-4) triumphed against the Figthing Irish at Blair Field in Long Beach.

The teams combined for 27 hits, including 17 by the Griffins. Katzaroff had two triples and a single, along with three RBIs.

Winning pitcher David Van Winkle (4-0) entered the game in the fifth inning for one inning of relief. Griffin Travis Tarchione tripled, singled, scored two runs and drove in two more.

Kennedy was led by catcher Joe O’Brien, who had two triples, a double and three RBIs. Pitcher Tad Crockett was charged with the loss.

In Century League action:

Orange 7, Villa Park 3--Kevin Reed drove in three runs as the Panthers (4-7) beat the Spartans at Villa Park. Kurt Christian (1-0) was the winning pitcher after allowing just one earned run in 5 innings. Orange’s Jaime Alatorre, Jim Case and Jamie Bosley had two hits apiece.

Santa Ana 5, Tustin 3--John Schilling won his eighth game without a defeat as the Saints defeated the Tillers at Santa Ana to remain atop the league standings.

Santa Ana (10-1 and 18-3) was paced by John Hefler and Hector Olivares, who were both 2 for 3 and scored a run apiece. The Saints got 10 hits, scoring twice in both the third and sixth innings.

Tustin (5-5-1), which got seven hits, was led by Dave Staton, who was 2 for 4 at the plate. Mike Rishovd (3-1) took the loss.

Canyon 8, Santa Ana Valley 0--Mike Townley threw a two-hit shutout as the Comanches got eight hits of their own to improve their records to 8-2-1 and 16-3-1. The host Falcons fell to 2-9 and 2-16, with Pete Perez taking the loss.

Foothill 8, El Modena 1--Mike Pope (4-2) threw a four-hitter as the Knights (5-6, 10-12) beat the Vanguards (5-5-1) at El Modena.