ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASEBALL : Roundup : Raths Combine to Help Kennedy Upset Loara

Kennedy High School scored three runs in the fifth inning and went on to upset Loara, 4-2, Friday in an Empire League baseball game at Kennedy.

Mark Rath walked to start the fifth, and Scott Pool was hit by a pitch by loser Jeff Patterson. John Christensen doubled in a run to give the Fighting Irish (2-4, 4-8) a 2-0 lead. Steve Rath, Mark’s brother, followed with a two-run single to make it 4-0.

Mark Rath picked up the victory and Charlie Lindquist the save after he replaced Rath in the sixth. Lindquist walked in a run in the sixth but retired the side in order in the seventh.

Patterson had 11 strikeouts and was 2 for 3 with four stolen bases for Loara (2-4, 9-4).

In other Empire League play:

El Dorado 5, Cypress 4 (8 innings)--Pinch-hitter Doug Yates hit a solo home run with one out in the eighth, leading the Golden Hawks at Cypress. El Dorado (5-1, 13-2) led, 4-2, in the seventh inning, but Cypress (2-3-1, 5-8-1) took advantage of four walks to score two runs and tie the score. Chris Fasione was 3 for 5 with a triple and double and Rene Ayala was 2 for 3 and scored three runs for El Dorado. Steve Gill (6-1) got the victory and Brian Benhke picked up the save.

In Century League play:

Foothill 6, Canyon 4--The Knights scored four runs in the first, one in the third and one in the sixth in the victory at home. Ashby Jones and Mike Horton walked in the first with the bases loaded, and Sterling Crook and Kent Madole had RBI singles. Crook doubled and Madole singled him home in the third.

Santa Ana Valley 8, El Modena 7--Santa Ana Valley, led by Darryl Lievanos’ two-run single, scored five runs in the seventh inning to take an 8-4 lead at El Modena. But starting pitcher Hector Lanbaren (3-1), allowed two runs and loaded the bases on three walks with one out in the seventh. Juan Sanchez came on in relief and allowed a run by walking the first batter he faced. But Sanchez saved the victory by getting a groundout and a strikeout. Santa Ana Valley is 4-3, 6-6; El Modena is 2-5 in league.

Villa Park 8, Santa Ana 1--Jason Wilkerson doubled in two runs and Tony Inga had a two-run double as the Spartans scored four runs in the first at Santa Ana. Villa Park (4-3, 7-7) scored three more in the fifth, including two on a triple by John Genova.

In Freeway League play:

Sonora 8, La Habra 6--The Raiders (5-2, 7-6) won their fifth consecutive league game by scoring five runs in the fifth at Sonora. Lance Storm (4-2), who got the victory in relief, scored on a wild pitch in the fifth and Graham Staines had a two-run double and David Streiter a two-run single for Sonora. Mike Segovia hit a home run for La Habra.

Sunny Hills 6, Fullerton 5--Tim Imperiali hit a three-run home run in the seventh at Sunny Hills to lift the Lancers (2-5, 7-9) past the Indians. Sunny Hills entered the seventh trailing, 5-3. Brad Olynk and Scott Adams opened with singles and, with one out, Imperiali hit his second home run.

Troy 13, Buena Park 3--Mike Case was 3 for 5 with a home run and four RBIs, and Tom Wilson and Jeff Ferren also homered at Buena Park. Wilson (3-0) earned the victory, allowing five hits and striking out 10 over six innings. Troy is 6-1, 10-2.

In Garden Grove League play:

Bolsa Grande 19, Santiago 4--Mike Robinson was 4 for 5 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs to lead the Matadors at home. Bolsa Grande (5-2, 8-3) had 16 hits. Shannon Valdez was 3 for 4 with three RBIs, Mike Robison was 2 for 3 with three RBIs and Chris Tapia, Chassain Hreische and Rick Hollis each had two hits for Bolsa Grande.

La Quinta 9, Garden Grove 0--Tim Park was 4 for 4, scored a run and drove in two as the Aztecs (7-0, 12-1) defeated Garden Grove by the same score for the second time this week. Jeff Kronfly was 2 for 3 and scored a run, and Jerry Arneson was 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

James Marquez (5-0) pitched a complete game for the victory, La Quinta’s 10th straight.

Rancho Alamitos 4, Los Amigos 1--Adrian Marquez hit a home run in the first for the Vaqueros (4-2-1, 7-6-1) at home. Bruce Smalley had an RBI single, also in the first. Mike Willey had an RBI single in the third and Richard Foster had a sacrifice fly in the sixth for Rancho Alamitos.

In Olympic League play:

Orange Lutheran 4, Whitter Christian 0--Scot Wire (6-1) went the distance, allowing four hits, striking out five and walking three at Orange Lutheran. Chris Hunt was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for the Lancers (4-2, 10-6). Whittier Christian is 4-1 in league.