Sunset League Baseball : Fountain Valley Pitches In to Win, 3-2
Fountain Valley has suffered from inconsistent pitching all year long, but in the past two weeks it has improved.
On Tuesday, Steve Montgomery was impressive as he fired a five-hitter en route to a 3-2 victory over Edison in a Sunset league game at Fountain Valley. Last Saturday, senior Craig Lane looked sharp as Fountain Valley defeated Huntington Beach, 5-3.
“Montgomery kept us in this game today,” Fountain Valley Coach Kent Neil said. “He came out and took control from the start.”
Montgomery (5-4), who pitched well after a bout with the flu, struck out seven and walked three in recording his fourth league victory of the season against only one loss.
Montgomery, a junior right-hander, sailed through the first six innings, allowing only one run. In the seventh, after he struck out the first two hitters, Montgomery allowed three consecutive hits.
Charger Jason Serafin doubled just inside the third-base line, and pinch-hitter Shawn Cotter’s single advanced Serafin to third. Joe Pence followed with an RBI single to left to cut the lead to 3-2. But Montgomery got Josh Bammer to end the game on a foul out to catcher Mark Dodd.
“This was one of my better games,” Montgomery said. “I felt a little tired in the seventh and got my pitches up in the strike zone. I’m just happy to get the win.”
The victory improved Fountain Valley to 10-8 overall and 5-3 in league play. The Barons are in first place, a half game ahead of Ocean View (10-7-1, 4-3-1) and Westminster (11-7, 4-3) in the league standings. Westminster plays Marina today. Edison fell to 8-8 and 4-4.
Fountain Valley took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second inning off starter Chris Barilla. Jeff Watts led off with an infield single between short and third. George Hoffstaetter laid down a sacrifice bunt that Edison catcher Daryl Mead fired over the first baseman’s head, advancing Watts to third. Barilla then hit Tom Mendoza to load the bases. Third baseman Jeff Higbee followed with another infield single to score Watts, and Steve Grack bounced into a double play to score Hoffstaetter.
Fountain Valley scored another run in the fourth when Watts led off with a double just inside the bag at third and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mendoza.
Barilla (2-1) also pitched well. He allowed only three hits--two of which were infield singles--in six innings.
“The kids we need hitting aren’t doing the job right now,” Edison Coach Paul Harrell said. “Montgomery did a nice job today, but we’re not swinging the bats very well.”
Scoring runs hasn’t come easily for Edison lately. The Chargers, who have scored only three runs in the last four league games, face Ocean View on Friday. Fountain Valley meets Westminister on Saturday.
Ocean View 2, Huntington Beach 0--Manny Lopez pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts for visiting Ocean View (10-7-1, 4-3-1). Ocean View pitchers have allowed 2 hits and no runs in the last 16 innings. Gary Christopherson had three hits, including a double, and drove in one of the Seahawks’ runs.