Prep Baseball : Huntington Beach’s Haack Sacks Ocean View

Jeff Haack picked the perfect time for his return.

Haack, Huntington Beach High School’s star junior pitcher who had been out with an injury, returned to the rotation Tuesday, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Oilers.

Over seven innings, Haack struck out six and threw a four-hitter as the Oilers beat Ocean View, 4-1, to move into a first-place tie with the Seahawks at 9-5.

The Oilers’ win also broke Ocean View’s eight-game winning streak and put Huntington Beach in good position for the Sunset League title with one league game to play.

Even if both schools go on to tie for the championship, Tuesday’s win was the Oilers’ second in three games against the Seahawks this season, giving them the edge when it comes time to determine playoff berths from the Sunset League.

The victory also came on Ocean View’s diamond, one that Haack is already quite familiar with. Haack shut the Seahawks out earlier this year and yielded only one run this time around on the same field.

“I played colt and pony league games here when I was younger,” Haack said, “so I just love the place.”

That showed in his play. Haack had been out the last few weeks with a pulled muscle in his ribs and pitched two innings against Edison Saturday, but that was just an off-Broadway rehearsal for Tuesday’s big show.

Haack struggled on occasion, walking four and letting two runners on base in the last inning, but he came up with the important pitches when he needed them, improving his record to 6-2 in the process.

The biggest pitch of the day for Haack was the one that he threw to Huntington Beach third baseman Jim Dedrick. That toss caught Ocean View baserunner Blaine Debrouwer leaning off of third, and Dedrick tagged him out in the subsequent rundown.

Debrouwer’s fifth-inning gaffe was costly for Ocean View in that it ended the only serious threat that the Seahawks mounted against Haack. With two outs, Tim Tembreull doubled and Debrouwer followed with a triple to right-center field.

Huntington Beach still led, 4-1, at that point, but the hit appeared to shake the Oilers. Haack had been throwing a one-hitter up until Tembreull’s double, and it seemed as if the Seahawks were ready to pounce. Haack then caught Debrouwer unawares, and the rally and inning were over.

In other Sunset League action:

Westminster 3, Marina 0--Pitcher John Gonzales (3-3) pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits, to lead the Lions to the win at Westminster.

Junior center fielder Robert Martinez (1 for 2) broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to score Mike Scjonsby. First baseman Steve Gulley was 3 for 3 with an RBI.

Westminster turned in four double plays.

Fountain Valley 8, Edison 5--Don Snowden got both a win and a save to lead the Barons to the victory at Mile Square Park.

Snowden (3-3) struck out 12 and left with two outs in the seventh inning. His replacement, Steve Giron, allowed three runs and Snowden came back in to get the final out. Baron second baseman Steve Miller was 3 for 4 with three RBIs.

CENTURY LEAGUE Canyon 4, Foothill 3 (nine innings)--Mike Sliemers doubled to drive in Todd French with one out in the bottom of the ninth to give Canyon the victory and keep the Comanches in contention for the league title. The loss drops Foothill (6-7, 11-13) out of the playoff race.

Foothill tied the game at 3-3 in the top of the seventh when pinch-hitter Pat Crawford singled with two outs to score pinch-runner Mike Tozzi. Ken Briggs had two doubles and a two-run homer for the Knights.

Canyon’s Leonard Damian hit his eighth homer of the season--a two-run blast in the sixth--and pitched 2 innings in relief to record his ninth win.

Villa Park 5, Santa Ana 2--The Spartans spoiled Santa Ana’s bid to clinch the league title with the upset at Villa Park.

Brian Raum came out of the bullpen with one out and the bases loaded and got Juan Moran to hit into an inning-ending double play to help preserve the win.

Tustin 6, Orange 4--Jeff Smith had a three-run double in the first, and Steve Surico had a two-run single in the third to lead the Tillers to the win at Tustin.

Mike Rishovd went six innings to get the win. Surico relieved him in the seventh to earn his third save. Tustin (7-5-1, 14-7-1) concludes the regular season Friday against Foothill.

El Modena 7, Santa Ana Valley 3--Vanguard third baseman Dion Espinoza broke open a close game with a three-run double in the fifth inning at El Modena.

The score was tied, 3-3, going into the fifth. Espinoza was 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Senior pitcher Ed Villela got the win, and teammate Corey Ahart was 3 for 4 with two runs scored.

EMPIRE LEAGUE Los Alamitos 4, Katella 3--Back-to-back triples by Bob Katzaroff and J.T. Snow in the sixth inning gave the Griffins the decisive run at Boysen Park.

The victory, coupled with Loara’s loss to Cypress, clinches third place for Los Alamitos (8-5, 17-8.)

Mike Flanagan (2-2) got the win with relief help from David VanWinkle and Randy Hacker. Jerry George (8-3) took the loss. Gary Renko was 3 for 4 and Katzaroff, Snow and Ricky Nen had two hits each for the Griffins.

Cypress 4, Loara 3--Pinch-hitter Al Aguirre got a bases-loaded single in the seventh inning to win the game for the Centurions at Cypress.

Cypress had trailed, 3-1, in the sixth, but an RBI single by left fielder Kevin Harper and a bases-loaded walk to Mark Steiner tied the score.

Designated hitter Eric Krivashei was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Krivashei scored the winning run in the seventh after leading off with a triple.

Esperanza 9, Kennedy 0--Paul Good was 3 for 3 with three RBIs to lead the Aztecs to the win at Kennedy.

Esperanza’s victory, coupled with Katella’s loss, clinches the league title for the Aztecs. Winning pitcher Greg Haskell struck out three. Mike Simms hit his eighth home run of the season in the second inning.

Pacifica 5, El Dorado 2--The Mariners scored four runs in the third inning to win at home.

Pacifica’s Pat Crupi drove in two runs when he singled with runners on second and third. Pacifica’s Bob Long was 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Winning pitcher Dave Graf struck out three.

El Dorado’s Jeff Petredes was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE University 4, Laguna Beach 0--Jeff Stombaugh took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before settling for a three-hitter in leading the first-place Trojans to the win at Laguna Beach.

Stombaugh struck out eight and walked two in improving his record to 2-0. Mark Favorite was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two stolen bases for University (11-2, 11-8).

Newport Harbor 5, Costa Mesa 4--Left fielder Joey James capped a Sailor rally in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out grand slam. It was James’ sixth homer of the season and put his RBI total at29.

Newport Harbor pitcher Jon Mahoney (4-6) struck out five and earned the win. Costa Mesa’s Tom Kaiser led off the game with a home run.

Saddleback 5, Corona del Mar 4--The Roadrunners took over sole possession of fourth place with the win at Corona del Mar.

Steve Delgado’s two-run single keyed Saddleback’s three-run fifth inning. Jeff Rowe got the win for the Roadrunners (6-7, 7-15). Steve Clark went the distance and took the loss. Mike Perisi was 2 for 3 for the Sea Kings (3-10, 4-16).

Estancia 12, Woodbridge 3--The Eagles sent nine batters to the plate in the third inning and scored six runs to win at Woodbridge.

OLYMPIC LEAGUE Orange Lutheran 10, Maranatha 9--The Lancers scored eight runs in the fourth inning to take a 10-3 lead, then held on to clinch a playoff berth with the victory at Orange. Mike Utke hit a three-run homer in the fourth, finished 2 for 4 with five RBIs and was the winning pitcher.

Capistrano Valley Christian 9, Melodyland 6--The Eagles rallied with eight runs in the last three innings to win. Melodyland pitcher Doug Rich had 15 strikeouts and allowed only one run in the first five innings.

ACADEMY LEAGUE Newport Christian 8, Liberty Christian 3--Whittak Sun struck out a career-high 11 batters to lead the Conquerors. Newport Christian’s Tom Bass was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three stolen bases.