SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A Roundup : Holcomb Tosses 2-Hitter as El Dorado Rallies Past North Torrance, 4-1

El Dorado High School had to come from behind to defeat North Torrance, 4-1, Friday in the first round of the Southern Section 4-A baseball playoffs at Placentia.

The Golden Hawks (20-6), who finished second in the Empire League, received a two-out, bases-loaded single from Steve Gill in the bottom of the sixth to break up a 1-1 game. Doug Yates, Doug Sipple and Chris Facone scored on the game-winning single by Gill.

Senior left-hander Scott Holcomb (11-0) allowed only two hits and recorded nine strikeouts in the win.

“Holcomb didn’t have his best stuff,” El Dorado Coach Steve Gullotti said, “but I knew he wouldn’t allow many runs.”

The Saxons broke up a scoreless game in the top of the fifth. Holcomb threw a wild pitch over the head of catcher Yates, allowing Tom Button to score from third for North Torrance’s only run.

Both Holcomb and North Torrance pitcher Dave Payetta (7-5) pitched well. Payetta allowed five hits and was charged with three earned runs. A couple of Saxon errors led to the other run.

“Payetta pitched well and kept us in the ball game,” North Torrance Coach Mike Neily said. “Gill really got a clutch base hit which hurt, but we have nothing to be ashamed of.”

North Torrance had won 10 of its last 11 game.

Yates and Sipple collected two hits each for El Dorado. Bret Boone collected the other Golden Hawk hit.

“Winning the first playoff game is always the hardest,” Gullotti said. “We’ll be more relaxed and should get a better performance on Tuesday.”

In other 4-A action:

Ocean View 6, Los Altos 3--David Holdridge hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie and help the Seahawks advance to the second round against Loara. Every Seahawk starter had a hit as Ocean View improved its record to 18-4-1.

Craig Anderson started but was relieved by Brett Johnson in the fourth inning. Johnson got the win to improve to 4-0.

The Seahawks scored two runs in the second on RBI singles by pinch-hitter Vic Fresca and shortstop Mike Fyhrie. Eric Christopherson, who singled, and Mike Abascal, who hit a ground-rule double, scored.

Ocean View added another run in the fourth when Abascal doubled, moved to third on Jeff Sherwood’s infield single and scored on Jim Van Patton’s sacrifice bunt.

Westminster 3, St. Paul 2--Chris Musuraca opened the top of the seventh inning with a triple and scored one out later on a squeeze bunt by Dean Eddy for the Lions (13-8).

Jeff Betz (3-1) came on in relief in the fifth inning to pick up the win. Freshman Ryan Klesko went 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI.