Fountain Valley Tops Ocean View, Faces Camarillo

Fountain Valley High pitcher Bob Sharpnack had been obsessed with the memory of allowing the game-winning homer the last time the Barons played Ocean View. But it took just a few innings Tuesday for his negative feelings to dissipate.

Fountain Valley scored nine runs in the first four innings and cruised to a 9-3 victory over Ocean View at Santa Ana College on Tuesday to earn a berth in Friday’s 8 p.m. 4-A championship game in Anaheim Stadium. The Barons (20-9-1) will meet Camarillo, a 7-2 winner over St. John Bosco.

Sharpnack allowed three hits and struck out five in four innings to get the win. He allowed a run on back-to-back singles by David Tinkle and Phil Chess.

Sharpnack will draw the starting assignment Friday night when Fountain Valley shoots for its first-ever Southern Section baseball championship. The Barons, who finished third in their league behind Ocean View and Huntington Beach, had won just one playoff game in the previous 20 years.