Damian Throws Two-Hitter As Canyon Beats Ramona, 2-0

Canyon High School’s Leonard Damian threw a two-hitter and struck out eight as the Comanches shut out Ramona, 2-0, Friday in the first round of the 3-A baseball playoffs at Canyon.

The Comanches (23-1), the defending Southern Section 3-A champions scored their only runs on Eric DeGraw’s RBI single in the fifth inning and Mike Townley’s RBI single in the sixth. Damian (11-2) who struggled in the first two innings, settled down to face one batter over the minimum in the final five innings.

“Early in the game I was just adjusting to the mound and seeing which of my pitches were working,” said Damian. “My fastball was moving pretty good. I also had an excellent curveball and slider.”

The senior right-hander allowed only six batters to reach base--three on walks. The only two hits Damian allowed were a bunt single to Robert Denarola in the first inning and an infield single by Robert Gurrola in the seventh.

After Denarola’s hit, Damian retired the next nine batter in order. He struck out the side in the fourth.

Canyon’s Mike Sliemers started the Comanches rally with a lead-off triple in the fifth off losing pitcher Willie Tursellino (10-5). DeGraw hit a single to right field to give the Comanches a 1-0 lead.

Canyon added an insurance run in the fifth. Catcher Todd French singled to center and was replaced by pinch runner Chuck Zacour. Zacour stole second and scored on a single to center by Townley.

Canyon 23-1 advances to the second round of the playoffs on Tuesday. Ramona finishes 16-9.

In other 3-A playoff action:

Edgewood 5, Savanna 4 (11 innings)--The Trojans scored on a bases-loaded single to win this marathon game at Edgewood.

Savanna scored two runs in the first inning off Edgewood ace Larry Gonzales (10-0) and it could have had more. With the bases loaded and two outs, Alex Madas singled down the left-field line to apparently drive in two more runs. However, Don Abbott missed the base while rounding third and was called out. Because Abbott’s was ruled a force out and the third out of the inning, Miguel Salas’ run in front of him did not count.

The Rebels scored again in the third to lead 3-0. However, Edgewood came back with a run in fourth on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. The Trojans went ahead with three runs in the fifth on three hits, two walks and a hit batter.

Savanna tied the score in the seventh on Tim Wickell’s RBI single to score John Scudellari. It was Wickell’s second hit of the game.

Valencia 3, Workman 1--Sophomore third baseman Brett Gregory’s single to center broke a 1-1 tie and lifted the Tigers to a win at home. The Tigers (17-6) scored all three runs in the fourth. Catcher Ron Terrill had singled home Jim Campanis earlier in the inning. Valencia will play No. 1-seed Gahr (25-3). Workman ends it season 12-8-2.

Winning pitcher Steve Street (8-1) struck out a career-high 10 and walked 2. Terrill was 2 for 3 for Valencia. Workman scored its only run in the fourth inning.

Sunny Hills 5, Corona 0--Lancer pitcher Paul Abbott (11-2) threw his fourth shutout of the season, limiting Corona (17-9) to three hits. Abbott lost his no-hitter in the sixth inning. Sunny Hills will play the winner of San Marcos-Leuzinger Tuesday in the second round.

Sunny Hills scored two runs in the second and third, and one more in the fifth. The Lancers had eight hits, six for extra bases. Left fielder Tim Byrnes and catcher Adrian Schicker each went 2 for 2 with one RBI. Third baseman David Wackerman hit a solo home run in the fifth to end Sunny Hills’ scoring.

Santa Ana 8, South Hills 2--Pitcher John Schilling (9-1) scattered seven hits and allowed only one run through five innings to lead the Saints to the win at home. Schilling also led Santa Ana at the plate, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. His run-scoring single with the bases loaded in the third sparked a four-run inning. The Saints will play the winner of John W. North-Alhambra.

The Saints led, 6-0, by the fourth inning. Sophomore third baseman John Hefler was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs. Schilling was replaced by Tim Nelson in the sixth inning. Nelson allowed a run. South Hills finished at 9-12.

Troy 15, Damien 10 (eight innings)--Jeff DeJesse’s two-run homer in the seventh tied the game, and his three-run homer in the eighth insured the Spartan win at Damien. DeJesse was 2 for 4 with five RBIs and was hit by two pitches.

Troy led in the sixth, 8-6, but Damien (15-7-1) scored four times to lead, 10-8. De Jesse’s homer evened the score. With two outs in the eighth, Tony Godfrey’s bloop single scored Bill St. Clair who had singled and stole second. After Godfrey scored, DeJesse hit his second home run of the game, and eighth of the season. Troy first baseman John Marsh (two RBIs) hit a home run in the fourth inning. Damien loaded the bases with one out, but winning pitcher Tony Panetti got a batter to hit a pop fly and struck out the next batter to end the game.

Panetti (8-3) struck out seven to earn the win. He had left in the fourth and returned in the sixth.