Roundup : Canyon Puts League Race on Hold With 5-1 Victory

The Century League baseball championship won’t be decided until Friday. Canyon High School, with Dave Bladow pitching a six-hitter, kept its hopes for a title alive by beating Villa Park, 5-1, Tuesday at Villa Park.

Canyon (9-5, 16-7) is one game behind Villa Park (10-4, 17-9). The teams meet again Friday in the season finale at Canyon to determine the league championship. If Canyon wins, the teams would be tied, but Canyon would get the top seed in the playoffs having beaten Villa Park twice in league.

Canyon last won the Century League title in 1984 when they won the 3-A championship. Villa Park’s last league title was in 1981.

Bladow (8-3) gave up one run in the third inning and sailed along until the seventh when Villa Park loaded the bases with one out and sent the tying run to the plate. But he struck out Chris Johnson and got Tom Roth on a grounder to end the game.

The Comanches, trailing 1-0, scored three runs in the sixth inning, two scoring on an error by left fielder Chris Bell.

Ralph Pacheco added a two-run home run for Canyon.

In other Century League play:

Santa Ana 7, Santa Ana Valley 1--Julio Vargas had two hits and two RBIs and scored two runs to lead the Saints (8-6, 15-9) at home. John Hefler was 2 for 2 with three runs scored for Santa Ana, which needs to win Friday at Santa Ana Valley to clinch third place and a berth in the Southern Section 3-A playoffs. If Santa Ana loses and Foothill wins, then Foothill gets the final spot.

Foothill 10, El Modena 1--Sterling Crook was 3 for 3 with a double and five RBIs for the Knights (7-7, 11-13) at home. Adam Chambers was 3 for 4 with two doubles, a triple and two RBIs, Doug Kopcha was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI and Glen Takabayashi had a double and scored two runs for Foothill. Freshman Kent Donnelly (5-3) pitched six innings to get the victory. El Modena is 2-12, 5-16.

In the Sunset League:

Huntington Beach 1, Marina 0--Brian Mcleod (3-2) pitched a four-hitter and struck out five for the Oilers at Marina. Rick Harvey singled in Dominic Alvarez for the winning run in the second inning for Huntington Beach (6-7-1, 13-8-1). The Oilers will play Edison Saturday to determine the league’s third playoff representative. Marina is 3-11, 9-15.

Ocean View 5, Edison 3--Mike Fyhrie (10-1) allowed five hits and struck out seven in four innings and was 2 for 2 with a two-run home run to lead the Seahawks at Ocean View. Matt Bertram had a double and a home run and Victor Fresca was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBIs to help Ocean View (12-2, 18-5). Terrence Tewell was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for Edison (7-7, 15-11).

Westminster 9, Fountain Valley 4--Ryan Klesko hit a three-run home run in the second to lead the Lions (8-5-1, 17-6-1) at home. Westminster’s Brian Stubbs (8-4) pitched a complete game and had a two-run single in the first. Dean Eddy was 2 for 2 with two runs for the Lions, who clinched second place. Brad Futak was 2 for 3 for Fountain Valley (5-9, 9-13).

In Sea View League play:

University 6, Tustin 4--The Trojans scored four runs in the seventh to win at Tustin. Mark Sutter singled and Steve Keer doubled to open the seventh for University (5-8-1, 11-13-1) and Craig Ainsworth then singled to tie the score, 4-4. Casey Simpson and Steve Conner followed with singles to give University a 5-4 lead. Dave Dieter singled Simpson home for the final run. Scott McGorgary (3-2) got the victory. Tustin is 9-5, 14-9.

Newport Harbor 6, Corona del Mar 3--Tony Wren was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Zack Goemer hit a two-run double in the top of the seventh inning to lead the Sailors (3-10-1, 9-14-1) to the win over the Sea Kings (6-8, 9-10) at Corona del Mar.

The third-place Sea Kings must defeat the Sailors Thursday or hope University loses to Tustin to make the playoffs. Ed Milum added two doubles and Kirk Summers pitched a four-hitter for Newport Harbor.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Laguna Hills 4, Laguna Beach 0--John Willard (7-3) gave up 10 hits and struck out four in a complete game for the Hawks at Laguna Beach. Chris Sheff was 2 for 4 with an RBI to help Laguna Hills (9-5, 15-9). The Artists are 3-11, 5-15-1.

In the Olympic League:

Capistrano Valley Christian 7, Brethren 6--Daron Sutton (4-8) gave up 7 hits and struck out 13 to lead the Eagles at Capistrano Valley Christian. Brent Ward was 2 for 4 with three RBIs including the game-winning hit in the ninth inning for Capistrano Valley Christian (4-7, 8-14). Brethren is 3-9, 5-13.