Roundup : Mele Hits Grand Slam to Help Fullerton Beat Troy, 9-3

Fullerton High School used timely hitting and strong pitching to defeat Troy, 9-3, in a Freeway League game Wednesday at Fullerton.

The Indians (6-4, 13-5) moved into second place behind Sonora.

Fullerton had seven hits, and was helped by 11 walks.

The Indians led, 5-2, going into the bottom of the sixth when junior catcher John Mele hit a Chris Robinson fastball 330 feet over the center-field wall for a grand slam, giving the Indians a 9-2 advantage.

“I was looking fastball all the way,” Mele said. “He got it in my wheelhouse and I just hit it.”

Dave Torres, Fullerton coach, said his team played passively, failing to hit the way it should.

“It’s a big win and I’ll take it,” Torres said. “This should help us get a good seeding for a playoff spot, but we’ll have to beat Troy again on Friday.”

Fullerton pitcher Stathy Papadatos (3-1) earned the victory and pitched well, scattering 10 hits and allowing only three runs.

“I didn’t feel good at the beginning but the encouragement the bench was giving me helped me get up and out of trouble,” Papadatos said

Fullerton also was led by first baseman Jeff Bailey, who was 2 for 2 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Troy (5-5, 8-8) had 10 hits, including solo home runs by shortstop Dave Shirota and first baseman Jeff Ferren.

In other Freeway League games:

Sonora 5, Sunny Hills 2--David Bird went the distance and struck out 15 to lead the Raiders, Orange County’s No. 1 team, at Sunny Hills. Scott Rajcic homered in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie, and Sonora (10-0, 19-1) added two in the seventh. The Lancers are 5-5, 7-11.

La Habra 5, Buena Park 3--The Highlanders scored unearned runs in the fifth and sixth innings on throwing errors. Buena Park (0-10, 1-12) committed four errors in the game. Alan Newman struck out seven and gave up four hits for La Habra (4-6, 7-9). Highlanders Chuck Weatherspoon and Jim Wright were each 2 for 3.

In Angelus League action:

Mater Dei 2, Bishop Montgomery 0--Mater Dei’s Steve Watson (5-3) went the distance, striking out 12 and allowing up six hits. John Dworzak doubled in a run for Mater Dei (4-6, 10-8) in the first inning and sophomore Jim Austin added a solo home run in the third.

Servite 8, Pius X 2--The Friars (8-2, 12-5) scored four times in the second inning, sparked by home runs by Mike Petko and Jay Speidel, to break open the game at Servite. Petko, who had three RBIs, hit a two-run homer and Speidel hit a solo homer. Brian Criss added two hits and two RBIs for the Friars. Craig Barkley (5-1) got the win and James Ferguson had his seventh save. Tony Oliva of Pius X hit a two-run homer in the fourth.

In the Garden Grove League:

Santiago 14, Los Amigos 5--The Cavaliers (7-3, 12-6) scored eight runs in the first two innings at Los Amigos. Anthony Candelas led a 13-hit Santiago attack, going 4 for 5 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Ken Hansen hit a three-run homer for the Lobos (1-9, 3-15), who committed seven errors. Los Amigos’ Matt Phelps went 2 for 3 to raise his batting average to .654 in league play.

La Quinta 2, Bolsa Grande 1--Jeff Wood was safe on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the seventh inning, allowing Ricky Rex to score the winning run at La Quinta. Sophomore catcher Mark Dion homered in the fourth inning for the Aztecs. Troy Paulsen also went 2 for 3. La Quinta (5-5, 13-8) will play at Bolsa Grande Friday.

Garden Grove 5, Rancho Alamitos 2--Mark Kiefer went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs and Mike Ferguson went 2 for 2 to lead the Argonauts at Garden Grove. Kiefer (5-2) was the winning pitcher.

In the Orange League:

Western 7, Brea-Olinda 1--Rich Lodding (9-2) threw a two-hitter over six innings in Glover Stadium to lead the Pioneers. Mark Tranberg went 2 for 4, including a three-run homer in the third, to lead the Pioneers (9-1, 17-4). Dan Price also homered for the Pioneers. Brea is 5-5, 8-9.

Valencia 8, Anaheim 7--Jeff Martinez hit a grand slam in the fourth inning to help the Tigers at Valencia. Martinez’s HR highlighted a six-run fourth inning for the Tigers, putting them ahead 6-4. Down 8-7 in the top of the seventh, Anaheim loaded the bases with two out, but failed to score.

Magnolia 8, Savanna 5--Carl Holmes had two hits and 3 RBIs to lead the Sentinels to the win at Glover Stadium. Mike Tietge picked up the win. Magnolia (4-6, 7-8) will play Western Friday at Glover Stadium. Savanna fell to 5-5 and 6-8.

In the South Coast League:

El Toro 5, Irvine 4--Richard Faulks hit a two-run homer with two out in the bottom of the seventh to give the Chargers the win at El Toro. Faulks, facing an 0-2 count, hit it over the left-center-field fence to help raise his record to 5-4. Brian Young and Chad Fouts each went 2 for 3 for the Chargers. El Toro (3-5, 10-12) plays host to Laguna Hills Friday. Irvine is 7-1 in league play.

Mission Viejo 12, Dana Hills 2--David Hori and Dwayne Lee each went 3 for 4 to lead the Diablos to the victory at Dana Hills. Hori had two doubles and two RBIs. Jack Bailey (6-2) picked up the victory. Mission Viejo is 6-1, 15-3.

Capistrano Valley 18, San Clemente 1--Nathan Call went 2 for 4, including a triple, home run, and five RBIs, to lead the Cougars at Capistrano Valley. Charles Lockard, Mike Pierce and Brett Snyder each homered for the Cougars in their 10-run second inning. Scott Stark (6-1) was the victor. Capistrano Valley (5-3, 13-6) plays host to Dana Hills Friday. San Clemente is 0-8, 4-15.

In the Sunset League:

Ocean View 3, Westminster 1--Pat Alaimo hit a pinch-hit, three-run homer in the sixth to lift the Seahawks at Ocean View. Seahawk pitcher David Holdridge (7-0), who went the distance, pitched a three-hitter. Ocean View (7-2-1, 12-4-1) leads the league by 2 1/2 games.