THE PREPS : Empire League Baseball : Esperanza Rallies and Rallies, but El Dorado Holds On for a 10-9 Win

Reliever Shane Borowski wasn’t expecting to bear the weight of one of north Orange County’s most intense rivalries in Friday’s El Dorado-Esperanza high school baseball game at Esperanza.

But with the Empire League game on the line--one out from victory, one ball from a tied score--Steve Gullotti, El Dorado coach, called for Borowski to end a high-scoring, intensely played game.

Borowski came on to face Esperanza’s Jason Moler in the bottom of the seventh with two out, a 3-0 count, bases loaded and El Dorado trying to protect a 10-9 lead.

Nothing but a strike would do.

“My legs were shaking when I went in,” Borowski said. “All I was trying to do was concentrate on the plate. What other sport can you play and throw two pitches and win?”

Borowski’s first pitch was a strike, and his second pitch was a game-saver as Moler grounded out to third for El Dorado’s 10-9 victory.

What started without many dramatics turned in to a wild offensive game that showcased the hitting prowess of both teams.

El Dorado gained an 8-0 lead, but the Aztecs tied the score in the sixth. The Golden Hawks scored two runs in the top of the seventh when Phil Nevin doubled just inside the bag at third base, scoring Chris Olson from second. Later in the inning, Kevin Schula, who had five RBIs, singled to left to score pinch-runner Travis DowDell from second for a 10-8 lead.

Esperanza, ranked No. 8 in Orange County, rallied again, scoring one run in the bottom of the seventh inning and then loaded the bases with two out against reliever Matt Luke (2-1). Luke went 3-0 to Moler, and in a surprise move Gullotti brought in Borowski.

“I felt if we were going to win the game we might as well have someone who can throw strikes,” Gullotti said.

The victory keeps El Dorado (13-2, 4-1) at pace with Los Alamitos (13-3, 4-1) in the league standings. Esperanza is 9-5, 3-2.

El Dorado, which is ranked No. 2 in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll, knocked out starting pitcher Moler in the third inning. The Golden Hawks ripped Moler for seven hits in the inning, including a towering grand slam to center field by Schula that scored Eddie Keller, Greg Fife and Scott Tomko and gave El Dorado an 8-0 lead.

But Esperanza rallied, scoring two runs in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings to tie the score at 8-8. Reliever Rob Nay came in to relive Moler and pitched well keeping the El Dorado hitters off balance.

Los Alamitos 4, Cypress 1--Tony Muser hit a two-run homer and picked up a save to lead host Los Alamitos (13-3, 4-1). Winston Wolf pitched 6 innings, allowing one run, but left with runners on first and second in the seventh. Muser got a ground out and a strike out to preserve the win.

Katella 7, Loara 5--Dennis Briggs, a freshman, had three hits and three RBIs to lead Katella (8-7, 3-2). Eric Meunier hit a home run also for Katella.