ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASEBALL : Orange League : Hot-Hitting Valencia Wins, 12-7

Valencia High School continued its torrid hitting as it defeated Western, 12-7, in an Orange League game Friday at Western.

The Tigers (6-1, 9-4) put on an impressive exhibition of offense with 10 hits and two home runs, capitalizing on six Pioneer errors. They enter the Easter break with a one-game lead over Brea-Olinda in the league standings.

“This is a talented offensive group,” said Valencia Coach Kevin McConnell. “We are swinging the bats real well and today received some timely hitting.”

The Tigers have been on a roll, winning seven of their last eight games and scoring 52 runs in the last four. Their success is due mostly to the power in the middle of their batting order--junior catcher Mike Edwards, senior third basemen Brett Gregory and senior pitcher Dennis Burbank.

Valencia opened a 6-0 lead, scoring five runs in the third inning. Burbank connected off Pioneer starter Eric Kawamoto (2-1) for a 420-foot home run to right field, his second homer of the season.

Western (4-3, 9-5), a 3-A finalist last season, scored three runs in the fourth inning and two in the fifth to cut the gap to 6-5. The Pioneers missed a chance to tie the game in the fifth inning when they loaded the bases with no one out.

Valencia brought in Burbank, its third pitcher of the game. Pinch-hitter Mark Klump missed a squeeze bunt and runner Doug McConathy was caught in a rundown and thrown out trying to get back to third. Burbank struck out the next hitter, Mario Juarey, and the next hitter, Kawamoto, flied out to end the threat.

The Tigers scored one run in the sixth inning and five more in the seventh, with Anthony Davis providing the big blow: a three-run, inside-the-park homer to right-center field. It scored Keef Leasure and Robert Navarrette for a 10-5 lead.

Burbank (8-1), pitching on two days’ rest after going seven innings Wednesday against Magnolia, allowed only two runs in the seventh inning. He struck out three and walked two, getting his eighth victory and seventh in league play.

“I’m happy the way it ended,” said Burbank. “I like the pressure situations, and our coaches say I pitch better under stress.”

In other Orange League action:

Brea-Olinda 12, Magnolia 8--Winning pitcher Jim Murray hit two home runs, going 3 for 4 with 5 RBIs at Magnolia. Murray (4-2) pitched 5 innings for the victory. Tom Woodburn hit a two-run homer for the Sentinels (1-5 in league). Brea is 5-2, 6-7.

Savanna 11, Anaheim 1--Bobby Chapman pitched a one-hitter to lead the Rebels at La Palma Stadium in Anaheim. Tony Osendorn had two hits and two RBIs for Savanna (4-2-1, 7-4-1), which had 10 hits and scored eight runs in the third.