Meredith Wins for Trabuco Hills, 4-1

John Barnes’ single drove in two runs, and Brad Collins and Larry Holman had one RBI each with base hits to lead Trabuco Hills High School to a 4-1 victory over Orange Tuesday in a Pacific Coast League baseball game at Trabuco Hills.

The three run-scoring hits supported sophomore Ryan Meredith (1-1), who pitched a six-hitter and struck out four. Aaron Van Der Aa (0-1), who also allowed six hits and struck out four, suffered the loss for Orange (3-5 overall, 1-1 in league play).

“We got the big hits when we needed them,” Trabuco Hills Coach Donn Munsell said. “We made some good defensive plays, and Ryan gave us the kind of effort we have been looking for from him for some time.”

Barnes gave Trabuco Hills (3-2, 2-0) a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-out single to center after Van Der Aa loaded the bases by walking Collins and Chad Poulos and hitting David Lowery.

The Mustangs extended their lead to 3-0 in the second. After John Shetland reached first on third baseman Mel Lundquist’s throwing error to start the inning, Jim Skidmore’s sacrifice advanced him to second. Collins then smashed a bad-hop single past Orange shortstop Emilio Avila to drive in Shetland.

The Panthers narrowed the Mustang lead to 3-1 on an unearned run in the fifth. After Paul Maund’s leadoff single, Rich Prater forced Maund at second. Barnes’ passed ball allowed Prater to take second, and he advanced to third when Barnes’ pickoff throw wound up in center field. Scott McMahon drove home Prater with a fly to right.

Trabuco Hills’ fourth run came in the sixth. After Lowery led off with a single, he was sacrificed to second by Poulos. Following Barnes’ infield out, pinch-hitter Holman singled home Lowery.

“Ryan looked a little bit tired in the fifth and sixth innings when they were hitting him hard, but he got his second wind in the seventh and finished the game strong,” Munsell said.