Orange County Sports / Prep Baseball : Garden Grove League : La Quinta Quiets Pacifica Bats, 8-1

It was billed as a showdown for first place in the Garden Grove League between baseball teams ranked among the 10 top in Orange County.

But league-leading La Quinta High School completely outplayed Pacifica, 8-1, Friday at Pacifica, overcoming a slow first inning and the almost constant taunting of the Pacifica bench.

La Quinta (14-4, 6-0), ranked sixth in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. poll, had 13 hits off four pitchers and scored all the runs that starter Mike Wilson needed in the second inning with a three-run outburst. Wilson (7-1) struck out eight and gave up his only run in the third inning.

Gerry Arneson, James Marquez, John Park and Mark Ralston all had two hits for La Quinta. Ralston, a designated hitter, drove in three runs; Park hit a double and a triple.

Pacifica starter Todd Long (6-3) retired the Aztecs in order and had two strikeouts in the first inning, but La Quinta came alive after Pacifica’s bench began taunting La Quinta’s players.

“We were a little flat in the first inning, and then they started getting mouthy,” Dave Demarest, La Quinta coach, said. “Their emotion turned into a plus for us. What a circus.” Demarest would not comment further on Pacifica’s bench tactics, which lasted into the final inning.

Bill Whiteley, the first-year coach at Pacifica, refused to talk to reporters after the game. “I have nothing to say to the newspapers,” he said.

It was the second consecutive loss for No. 8 Pacifica (11-5, 4-2) after the Mariners had rolled to 11 straight victories. Third baseman Shelby Hart had two of the Mariners’ five hits, but Pacifica’s bats were silenced by Wilson.

In the Garden Grove League:

Bolsa Grande 9, Los Amigos 3--Jerry Maldonado went 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Mike Robertson went 2 for 3 with two RBIs to lead host Bolsa Grande (5-11, 2-4). Maldonado (3-4) was also the winning pitcher, as he struck out nine and walked one. Garcia Orlando went 2 for 3 with an RBI for Los Amigos (1-5, 2-13).

Santiago 8, Garden Grove 4--Cip Cruz went 2 for 2 with an RBI to lead Santiago (8-11, 3-3) at Garden Grove. Sean McCory (3-3) went the distance, striking out four, for the victory. McCory also had two hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases. Steve Larson had two hits, two runs scored and three stolen bases for Santiago.