Orange County Prep Baseball : Valencia’s Seven-Run Sixth Upsets Western

Valencia High School scored seven runs in the sixth inning to upset Western, 11-6, Wednesday in an Orange League baseball game at Valencia.

Western (7-1, 15-4 and the No. 3 rated team in the county) jumped in front when it scored two runs in the fourth inning, only to have Valencia score four in its half of the fourth. The big blow was shortstop Brett Gregory’s three-run home run. Gregory, the leading hitter in the county with a .538 average, was 2 for 3 with two runs scored and had four runs batted.

“The pitch was a high fastball and I just went the other way,” Gregory said. “We hit the ball hard all day.”

The Pioneers came back in the top of the sixth, scoring two runs. Second baseman Dale Brown singled home Frank Miller and right fielder Rich Lodding knocked in the other run, scoring Dave Jacob with a fielder’s choice. Lodding had three RBIs.

Lodding (7-2) also took the loss after replacing starter Dave Tellers in the bottom of the sixth.

The Tigers (5-3, 7-6) came back with two out, scoring seven runs, thanks in part to an error by shortstop Paul Boucher that allowed two runs to score and a run-scoring short fly ball that was lost in the sun.

Western Coach Dave Bowman saw some good in the defeat. “This loss will help our team; it should wake us up. Valencia is a tough place to play and we had bad breaks in the sixth. Things just went against us.”

Dennis Burbank (1-1) got the win for Valencia, pitching 2 innings and allowing only one run. “Dennis pitched great and is getting better after coming out late because of basketball,” said Coach Kevin McConnell. At the plate, Burbank was 3 for 4 with one run scored and two RBIs.

Western is still in command in the Orange League, two games ahead of Valencia.

“Western is still in the driver’s seat,” McConnell said. “We’re getting better and better, even though we were overrated at the beginning of the season. Today we showed we are a quality team.”

In other Orange League action:

Brea-Olinda 8, Magnolia 2--Mike Oziminski’s three-run double broke the game open for the Wildcats in the fourth inning. David Kain also went 2 for 4 with a run batted in. He also pitched a complete game, striking out seven on the way to his second win in as many decisions.

Savanna 3, Anaheim 1--Jason Paulus’ two-run single in the top of the sixth gave Savanna a 2-1 lead, and Matt Stephenson added an RBI single to provide the final margin in the Rebels’ win at Anaheim. Robert E. Lee struck out 19 and allowed only two hits to get the win.

In Angelus League action:

Servite 2, St. Paul 1--The Friars (7-1, 10-4) scored once in the third on an RBI base hit by Jason Rolish, and Brian Criss scored the winning run on a throwing error in the sixth inning. Three Servite pitchers--Craig Barkley, Erick Matillo and James Ferguson--combined to limit St. Paul (5-3, 14-4) to three hits. Swordsman pitcher Art Salas went all the way and also allowed three hits.

Bishop Amat 5, Mater Dei 1--Brian Kelly pitched a complete-game four-hitter to lead the Lancers (5-3, 9-5-1) to the win at Mater Dei.

The Monarchs (3-5, 9-6) got their only run in the seventh when Jim Austin reached on an error and scored on a double by John Dworzak.

In Freeway League action:

Sonora 8, Fullerton 1--Senior left-hander David Bird allowed just four hits and struck out nine to lead the host Raiders to their 15th straight win. Fullerton’s only run was unearned. Bird has gone 22 straight innings without allowing an earned run.

Rob Stuart was 2 for 2 and scored 3 runs for the Raiders (8-0, 17-1).

Troy 6, La Habra 3--Warrior pitcher Mike Greer had 14 strikeouts and allowed just two walks and five hits. Troy got a three-run homer from David St. Clair in the first inning, his fourth of the season. Troy is 7-7 and 4-4; La Habra is 3-5 and 6-9.

Sunny Hills 10, Buena Park 1--The Lancers scored four runs in the fifth and three in the sixth to run away with the game. Trevor Painton led Sunny Hills’ nine-hit attack with two hits and two RBIs. Painton also started on the mound and struck out eight in 4 innings. Bryan Olynyk relieved Painton and retired all seven batters he faced. He struck out six of the seven.

In Garden Grove League action:

Bolsa Grande 4, Santiago 2--The Matadors (6-2, 9-6) scored three runs in the sixth inning, two forced in by walks and one knocked in by Rick Hollis’ single. Mike Valdez (4-1) went the distance for the win. He had a no-hitter through four innings, but had it broken up in the fifth on a home run by Cavalier designated hitter Art Barona. Bolsa Grande is tied with Garden Grove in first place and Santiago (5-3, 10-6) is one game behind in third place.

Garden Grove 2, La Quinta 1-- Mike Ferguson singled with one out in the sixth inning to drive in the winning run at La Quinta. Mark Kiefer pitched a three-hitter and struck out nine for the Argonauts. Ferguson, Jeff Kanagae and Tim Gjertsen had two hits each for Garden Grove.

Rancho Alamitos 11, Los Amigos 4--Steve Jenkins hit two three-run home runs and Dalan Taylor hit a grand slam as the Vaqueros overpowered the Lobos. Jenkins’ first homer and Taylor’s slam came in the first inning. Craig Paquette added a 4 for 4 effort for Rancho Alamitos. Los Amigos’ Matt Phillips hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning.

In Sea View League action:

Estancia 5, Woodbridge 4--The Eagles moved into first place with the victory at Tewinkle Park. Estancia (5-2, 7-9) scored three runs in the third--two on RBI singles by John Baker and Mike Roselini--to take a 4-0 lead. Roselini pitched 6 innings to record the win with relief help from Pat Norville.

Laguna Beach 6, University 0--Coby Naess (5-1) had nine strikeouts and scattered six hits for the Artists. Trojan pitcher Todd Krueger struck out 13 in the loss. Mark McDonald went 3 for 3 with a triple to lead Laguna Beach offensively.

Corona del Mar 6, Saddleback 6 (8 innings)--The Sea Kings scored three runs in the sixth to take a 5-3 lead, but the Roadrunners scored twice in the seventh to tie, 5-5. Corona del Mar went up, 6-5, in the top of the eighth on a triple by Bob Ardell and a wild pitch. Saddleback tied it again, 6-6, in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single by Victor Rossano. The game was stopped because of darkness.

Newport Harbor 17, Costa Mesa 4--The Sailors worked four Costa Mesa pitchers for 22 hits en route to the win at Orange Coast College. Pat Maynard and Tony Wren were 4 for 6 and Stu Hatch and Steve Kalatschan had three hits each for Newport Harbor (3-4, 6-11).