ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASEBALL : Orange League : Valencia’s Burbank Stops Wagner and Savanna

Dennis Burbank of Valencia High School had a couple of goals going into the Tigers’ showdown with Savanna for first place in the Orange League Wednesday.

He wanted to come back from a shelling in a 9-5 loss last Wednesday to Brea-Olinda--when he gave up seven runs on seven hits in two innings--and he wanted to get Jeff Wagner out at least once.

Burbank accomplished the second goal at a most opportune time, striking out Wagner with the bases loaded in the sixth inning of the Tigers’ 5-2 victory at Valencia.

Wagner--who had reached base 20 straight times going into the game--walked, doubled and singled in his first three at-bats Wednesday.

But after working Burbank to a 3-1 count in the sixth inning, Wagner took two knee-high fastballs to end the rally.

“The timing was the worst (for the streak to end),” Savanna Coach Mike Quigley said. ‘He had hit the ball well.’

Burbank (8-2) also worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first inning. He struck out 12 in the game.

“It’s been that way all year,” said Kevin McConnell, Valencia coach. “They had some scoring opportunities, but he battled through each one of those.”

Valencia (8-2, 12-6) scored a run in the first on a single, error and sacrifice fly. In the second, the Tigers scored three runs, two on a towering home run to left-center by shortstop Nacho Garcia.

Meanwhile, Savanna (6-3-1, 10-6-1) frustrated Quigley by stranding nine runners.

“We did not move runners with an out all day, and it just killed us,’ Quigley said. “They were just the opposite.”

Brian Nelson’s third-inning triple drove in Savanna’s runs. Keith Leasure was 2 for 2, with a solo home run in the third that gave Valencia a 5-2 lead.

“He (Burbank) wanted to get Wagner the whole game just because he did have that streak,” McConnell said.

Brea-Olinda 2, Anaheim 1--Winning pitcher Shon Riley, who allowed four hits, drove in Robbie Grubbs on a sacrifice for the winning run at Anaheim. Brea-Olinda is 7-3. Anaheim is 0-10, 2-19.

Western 4, Magnolia 3--Brian Nauenberg doubled to open the sixth and San Price followed with an RBI single to break a 3-3 tie for the Pioneers at Magnolia. Nauenberg, who was 3 for 3, also pitched 5 innings to get his third victory without a loss. Bob Nosn pitched the final 1 innings for his third save. Mario Juarez had a two-run single for Western (6-4, 14-6-1), which scored three runs in the second to tie the score.