Southern Section Baseball Finals : Esperanza Tries for Second Straight 4-A Title

Tonight at 7:30, in the Southern Section 4-A baseball championship game at Dodger Stadium, Lakewood High School, the team of the 1970s, will play defending champion Anaheim Esperanza, which is trying to become the team of the ‘80s.

Lakewood played in five championship games, winning one, in the ‘70s. Esperanza is trying to make its mark by becoming the first team to repeat as 4-A champion since Ontario Chaffey in 1958.

It’s also a meeting of The Times’ preseason No. 1 team, Lakewood, which held that top spot until mid-April, against the team that took its place at the top for the final six weeks of the season.

“It’s the first time that we’re an underdog,” Lakewood Coach Spud O’Neil said. “They’re the No. 1 team, and rightfully so. (And) we’ve earned a spot to try to beat them.”

Lakewood right-hander Mike McNary will try to get the job done for the Lancers. McNary has been the winner in each of Lakewood’s four playoff games, including shutout wins over Westminster and La Puente Bishop Amat. He has an 11-3 overall record, with a 1.51 earned-run average and 131 strikeouts in 97 innings. He has walked only 26.

He will be trying to beat an Aztec team that has lost only five games in two years. Esperanza is 25-2 this season, after going 25-3-1 last year, and although some of the victories haven’t been pretty, the Aztecs just keep winning.

One constant in Esperanza’s two years of prosperity has been shortstop Tom Redington, who was chosen by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of this week’s draft. This year, as the only returning starter, he saw few good pitches, but he still had a good year, hitting .382 with 9 home runs, 30 runs batted in and 37 walks.

Doug Saunders, who bats cleanup behind Redington, is hitting .439 with 6 home runs, 28 RBIs and 32 runs scored. No. 5 hitter Jason Moler has a .370 average and 29 RBIs, and leadoff man Bart Goldman is hitting .440 with 10 doubles, 29 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.

Moler will be the starting pitcher for the Aztecs. He has an 8-1 record and a 2.33 ERA. Esperanza’s top pitcher, unbeaten sophomore Roger Weems, is doubtful because of a strained muscle in his neck.

Although Esperanza stole 77 bases, Lakewood (24-7) has a clear advantage in speed. The Lancers have 115 stolen bases, led by second baseman Paul Graves with 21.

“The key to beating Esperanza is to get our people on base,” O’Neil said. “All throughout our lineup, kids can steal bases and get the extra base.”

Offensively, the Lancers don’t have a dominant player. Seven of their nine starters have more than 14 RBIs, led by outfielder Matt Nuez with 25. Ross Schanberg leads Lakewood with a .398 batting average.

In the 3-A final at 4:30 p.m., Riverside Arlington (21-8) will play Fullerton Troy (21-6).

Arlington’s Lions made it to the title game on the strength of their defense, according to assistant coach Roger Hocking. That defense is led by senior shortstop Layne Lambert, who is also hitting .460. Senior right-hander Mark Pratt has provided excellent pitching and has an 11-4 record and a 1.98 ERA to show for it.

Troy, meanwhile, will start Chris Robinson (13-2), even though he pitched eight innings in a 6-5 semifinal win over John W. North of Riverside Tuesday.

With a .401 team batting average, the Warriors are led by leadoff hitter David Shirota, who is batting .453.

If Troy wins, it will be the school’s first team championship in its 25-year history.

In the 2-A final at 1 p.m., No. 2-seeded Capistrano Valley (26-3) will play Whittier La Serna (19-5-1) in a matchup of balanced teams.

Capistrano Valley has a trio of good starting pitchers in Brett Snyder, Lance August and Brian Walker. Snyder, who is 11-1, will start against La Serna pitcher Rich Poliquin, who is 8-1 with a 1.85 ERA.

Both teams can hit, although Capistrano Valley has an advantage with a .334 team batting average. Leadoff man Tommy Adams and Walker are both hitting .457.

First baseman Manny Cervantes, who hit two home runs in La Serna’s semifinal win over Laguna Hills, leads the Lancers with a .488 average, 8 home runs and 28 RBIs.

For the third straight game, Capistrano Valley will be coached by assistant coach Craig Anderson. Head Coach Bob Zamora has been suspended by the Southern Section for allegedly organizing his players for a semipro baseball team.

Playa del Rey St. Bernard (21-4) will play Whittier Christian (20-5) for the 1-A title at 10 a.m. in a matchup of top left-handed pitchers and powerful hitting teams.

Tim Williams is unquestionably the leader of St. Bernard, on the mound and at the plate. As a pitcher, Williams has a 9-1 record with 112 strikeouts in 66 innings. As a hitter, he has 15 home runs and a .514 average. He is tied with Mike Arthurs of Templeton for the Southern Section record with 25 home runs during his high school career.

The Vikings have a team batting average of .358 with 34 home runs, partly due to their cozy home field, but St. Bernard Coach Bob Yarnall doesn’t think his team will be at a disadvantage in spacious Dodger Stadium.