SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES : 2-A : Errors Help Norte Vista Beat Bloomington, 8-4, for Title

Norte Vista High School of Riverside parlayed two second-inning errors into five unearned runs and went on to defeat Bloomington, 8-4, in the Southern Section 2-A championship game Saturday at Anaheim Stadium.

The victory was Norte Vista’s third straight this season against its Sunset League rival. The first two victories were by one run. Bloomington’s defense prevented Saturday’s game from being that close.

After the Bruins (17-10-2) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning off winning pitcher Bill Jordan (15-3), Norte Vista (22-6) took the lead for good in the top of the second.

Steve Jordan led off the inning with a single and took second when Bloomington third baseman Gary Vasquez misplayed Mark Santos’ ground ball. The next batter, David Manzarnares, sacrificed, but Bruin shortstop Gilbert Ortega dropped the throw from pitcher Robert Smith that would have forced Santos.

Jeff Shinarq’s sacrifice fly gave Norte Vista its first run. After a walk to Bill Jordan, Brian Edmondson singled in two runs to make it 3-2. Smith (10-5) walked Greg Martineau before surrendering a two-run single to Clint Jordan, after which Bloomington Coach Mike Genthner replaced Smith with Evric Gray.

The Braves added two runs in the sixth on a walk and triples by Martineau and Shelby Jordan, and one in the seventh on pinch-hitter Nick Hart’s run-scoring single.

Meanwhile, Bill Jordan recovered from his shaky start. He allowed only one earned run after the first and seemed to get stronger as the game progressed. In seventh, he clinched Norte Vista’s first baseball championship by striking out the side.

Shelby Jordan led Norte Vista with three hits, and Sean Ramos went 4 for 4, including a triple and double, for Bloomington.