SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 2-A Preview : Garden Grove-Saddleback: Rematch With Meaning

There wasn’t much at stake the first time Garden Grove and Saddleback high schools met on the baseball field this year.

It was the fourth day of the Santa Ana Elks Easter tournament in March, and the Argonauts beat the Roadrunners, 5-4, in a consolation game.

“That was kind of an endless struggle,” Garden Grove Coach Jim Rawls recalled. “Everyone was just hoping to get out of there. It wasn’t really a test of anyone’s ability.”

Today’s 3:15 p.m. rematch in the first round of the CIF Southern Section 2-A playoffs at Garden Grove High should be.

This time, both teams’ aces will be on the mound in what shapes up as a pitchers’ duel.

Senior right-hander Mark Kiefer, who was 8-2 with a 1.01 earned-run average and 70 strikeouts for Garden Grove, will oppose senior right-hander Jeff Rowe, who was 8-2 with a 2.36 ERA and 51 strikeouts.

Kiefer doubles as the Argonauts’ best hitter with a .433 average and 16 stolen bases. Jerry Canada is hitting .379 with 15 RBIs for Garden Grove (14-7), which finished the regular season with four straight victories to win the Garden Grove League championship.

Saddleback’s top hitters are shortstop Danny Ontiveros (.365, 20 RBIs) and outfielder Victor Rossano (.346, 10 RBIs).

The Roadrunners (13-10-1) had a chance to win their first league title in 19 years but lost their final game to Corona del Mar and settled for second place in the Sea View League. They had won five straight going into the regular-season finale.

In other 2-A first-round games:

Santiago (14-9) at University (12-9)--The Trojans won their second straight Sea View League title by defeating Laguna Beach in the last game of the regular season. University is led offensively by shortstop Al Contrera, who is batting .456 with three homers and 10 doubles. Left-hander Todd Krueger (5-7, 57 strikeouts) will get the start.

The Cavaliers, making their first playoff appearance in 11 years, will counter with pitcher Anthony Candelas, who is 5-2 and is hitting .383 with 21 RBIs. Other offensive standouts for Santiago are Tim Reynolds (.388) and Ricardo Gallardo (.326, 24 RBIs).

Chino (15-10) at Irvine (19-8-1)--The Vaqueros won their first South Coast League title in the school’s 10-year history and will make their fifth playoff appearance in the past seven years under Coach Bob Flint.

First baseman Bob Hamelin nearly won Orange County’s prep Triple Crown, finishing second in batting with a .514 average and leading the county in homers (9) and RBIs (38). Senior right-hander Brian Snoddy (10-2, 1.91 ERA) will start today.

The Cowboys’ best pitcher is D.J. Floyd, who catches when he isn’t pitching. Outfielder Daryl Allen is hitting better than .400 for Chino, which finished third in the Hacienda League.

Bell Gardens (16-7) at Capistrano Valley (18-6)--The Cougars opened South Coast League play with a 2-3 record but rebounded to win seven straight and finish second.

Outfielders Nathan Call (.450, 5 homers, 21 RBIs) and Tommy Adams (.418, 31 runs scored, 18 stolen bases) lead the offense, and Capistrano Valley has two excellent pitchers in Scott Stark (8-1, 1.53 ERA) and Brett Snyder (7-2, 1.75 ERA).

The Lancers, who finished second in the Whitmont League, are led by center fielder Javier Fimbres (521, 5 homers, 10 doubles, 33 RBIs) and left fielder Sal Ruiz (.414, 12 RBIs).

Bell Gardens also has two good pitchers in Carlos Garcia (8-2, 1.55 ERA, 10 complete games, 68 strikeouts) and Steve Morales (5-2, 1.46 ERA, 7 complete games, 41 strikeouts).

Mission Viejo (16-6) at Santa Fe (15-6)--Jack Bailey, senior right-hander with a 7-4 record, will start for the Diablos, who advanced to the 2-A championship game last season. Shortstop Bob Doran and catcher Don Roberson each had 27 hits during the regular season, and Doran led the team with a .372 average.

Roberson was a defensive star in last year’s playoffs, throwing out seven of nine runners who attempted to steal and picking off three others. The Diablos finished third in the South Coast League.

The Chiefs opened the Whitmont League with a 1-4 record but then won nine straight for the title. Sophomore catcher Mark Santana is hitting .529, and second baseman Leonard Mendoza is batting .420. Santa Fe’s top pitcher is junior lefty Jon Corona, who is 5-1 with a 2.66 ERA.

La Quinta (18-8) at John Glenn (16-7)--The Aztecs’ offense revolves around shortstop Troy Paulsen, who led Orange County in hits (43) and batted .512 with 5 homers, 35 RBIs, 10 doubles, 4 triples and 17 stolen bases. La Quinta has also received solid pitching from right-handers Randy McGlenn (6-1) and Mike Wilson (6-3).

The Eagles, second-place finishers in the Suburban League, are led by pitcher Sean McDowell (9-1, 1.10 ERA, 9 complete games, 3 shutouts, 106 strikeouts).

Estancia (11-12) at Mountain View (18-3)--Junior left-hander Pat Norville has been involved in all nine of the Eagles’ Sea View League victories, collecting six wins and three saves. Catcher Tom Campbell has been the team’s leading hitter, batting .354 in league.

The second-seeded Vikings, who won the Mission Valley League with a 14-1 record, have a powerful lineup, led by Gabriel Molina (.456, 3 homers, 34 RBIs) and Danny Macias (.446, 7, 30).

Left-hander Brian Romero is 11-0 with an 0.65 ERA and 96 strikeouts. Mountain View reached the 2-A semifinals last season before losing to Mission Viejo, 6-5.