Prep Baseball Roundup : Ocean View Sticks to Business and Wins

Ocean View High School’s businesslike approach to baseball continued to pay big dividends Tuesday as the Seahawks defeated Westminster, 2-1, in a Sunset League game at Westminster.

It was the second consecutive one-run victory in league play for Ocean View (10-3 overall, 2-0 in league play) after a 4-3 decision over Fountain Valley.

“A typical Sunset League battle,” said Steve Barrett, Ocean View’s first-year coach.

Well, not quite. The last time the teams met in league play, Westminster rallied for a 7-6 victory to gain a share of the league title. Both teams were very vocal in that emotional game. Later, Westminster was forced to forfeit the victory for using an ineligible player.

This time, the teams played in an atmosphere more suited for a library, but Barrett said the mood suited his team’s style of play.

“We take a quiet approach to the game,” he said. “You won’t hear much noise from the bench or the field. The players have taken a businesslike approach.”

Ocean View took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when first baseman Mike Burns singled and moved to third on a double down the left-field line by catcher Corey Colbert.

Left fielder Scott Caringella drove in Burns with a sacrifice fly to center. Leadoff batter Steve Hernandez drove in the Seahawks’ second run with a single in the fifth inning that scored Kevin Mullens.

Westminster (8-3-1, 0-1) managed only two scratch hits off Ocean View starter Brent Woken through six innings before the Lions finally came to life in the seventh.

First baseman Ryan Klesko opened the inning with a single and scored on a two-out double by shortstop Chris Larson. The Lions had the bases loaded after a single by catcher Angel Lopez and a walk to left fielder Mark Murphy, but the game ended when Jeff Fortune flied to left.

“The intensity wasn’t there until the seventh inning,” said Ken Ostrowski, Westminster coach. “Emotion is a part of the game, and we didn’t come alive until the seventh.”

Ostrowski sensed a letdown in Monday’s practice after the Lions had averaged six runs per game in tournament play. Westminster also played without three-year starter Brian Stubbs, who was suspended Monday by the school’s athletic council for breaking the athletic code last week. Stubbs, a pitcher, will sit out the first round of league play.

It won’t get any easier for Westminster this week with the Lions playing a makeup game against Marina on Thursday and then facing Fountain Valley on Saturday.

Woken’s performance was a big boost to Ocean View’s staff, which has been relying heavily on sophomore Randy Karliner. Woken (1-1) appeared to be fully recovered from an ankle injury that had limited him to two starts.

“I felt good my last game against Mission Viejo when I pitched four shutout innings in relief,” he said. “I didn’t have much luck against Westminster last year, so hopefully things have changed.”

Starting pitcher Brett Grebe (4-1) was the only bright spot for Westminster despite losing for the first time. Grebe kept Ocean View’s hitters off stride with a good curveball and had two of the Lions’ five hits.

In other Sunset League games:

Huntington Beach 11, Marina 10--The Oilers held off several Marina rallies for the victory at Marina. Huntington Beach led, 7-2, but Marina came back to tie the score, 7-7, in the fourth. In the seventh, Chris Maher singled home Chris Mangels and Joe Kijewski to give the Oilers (5-5, 1-0) an 11-8 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Marc Newfield’s two-run double pulled the Vikings to within one run, 11-10, with two outs. However, winning pitcher Josh Faurer got a groundout to end the game. The Oilers had nine doubles, including three by Mangels. Mangels, Chance Agnew and Ryan Marlin each had two RBIs. Newfield had three hits, including a solo home run, and three RBIs for the Vikings (0-1 in league play).

Fountain Valley 7, Edison 2--Steve Grack had two hits and four RBIs to lead host Fountain Valley (6-4, 1-1), which had five hits. Steve Montgomery (2-1) pitched the first five innings for the victory.

In Pacific Coast League baseball:

Trabuco Hills 7, Laguna Beach 3--Jeff Carrao had two hits and three RBIs for the Mustangs (5-3, 2-0) at home. Trabuco Hills scored four runs in the fifth, two on a bases-loaded single by Carrao, to take a 7-3 lead. David Lowery (4-1) struck out seven for the victory.

Laguna Hills 9, Costa Mesa 2--Laguna Hills starting pitcher Ron Kortman improved his record to 5-0, allowing just two hits over six innings. Mike Helm drove in four runs on two hits for Laguna Hills (10-3, 2-0).

In the Olympic League:

Orange Lutheran 10, Santa Margarita 1--Mark Bredehoft had four hits, including a double, and five RBIs for visiting Orange Lutheran (4-6-1, 1-0). Doug Senne had three hits, and Todd Dudley and Mike Rossi had two each for Orange Lutheran, which had 15 hits.

Whitney 10, Capistrano Valley Christian 5--Kerry Langdale had a hit, scored two runs and stole a base for host Capistrano Valley Christian (5-4, 0-1).

In a nonleague game:

Liberty Christian 10, Pioneer Baptist 5--John Van Dyke had three hits, including two triples, and three RBIs for host Liberty Christian (6-0). Mark Baltodano had two hits and an RBI for Liberty Christian, which scored five runs in the fourth inning.

Chris Buckels (3-0) had 12 strikeouts in six innings for the victory.