O’Hearn Puts Saddleback in 3-A Semifinals

Paul O’Hearn of Saddleback High School had started only one game before Friday’s Southern Section 3-A quarterfinal game against Dana Hills.

O’Hearn, a 6-foot 3-inch right-handed reliever, had never pitched more five innings.

But Friday at Santa Ana, he struck out 10 and allowed only 3 hits in a 5-3 victory that sent Saddleback (22-6) into Tuesday’s semifinals against El Toro (17-13) at a neutral site.

“Paul is my most effective pitcher at the moment,” Bobby Mangram, Saddleback coach, said. “If we’re fortunate enough to get to Anaheim Stadium next week, he’ll be my starting pitcher.”

Dana Hills (16-13) scored three unearned runs off O’Hearn in the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit when he tired. O’Hearn walked two batters and balked home two runs in an otherwise dazzling performance.

“It was his show,” Bob Canary, Dana Hills coach, said. “He pitched a very good game, and we helped him by swinging at some bad pitches. I don’t think he intimidated us; he was just effective. We weren’t very good at the plate.”

George Saldana, Saddleback’s cleanup hitter, hit two home runs as the Roadrunners built a 4-0 lead after three innings. Third baseman Neil Carter drove in Saddleback’s first run with a single and O’Hearn added a run-scoring single for a 2-0 lead in the first inning.

Saldana’s two-run homer in the third inning--his fourth of the season--hooked just inside the left-field foul pole and landed in the tennis courts behind the outfield. The hit gave Saddleback a 4-0 lead, but Saldana was just getting started.

Saldana drove a solo homer deep over the left-field fence in the fifth inning for a 5-0 lead that once again landed in the tennis courts. Saldana’s three RBIs increased his season total to 27.

“The first pitch that Saldana hit for a homer was a high changeup,” Canary said. “The second pitch was a slightly high fastball. That’s a talented group of players. They’re all very good athletes.”

Saddleback had five hits off losing pitcher Ricky Whipple (4-5), but the Roadrunners were in control.