Century League : Rosas Strikes Out 12 as Santa Ana Overpowers Canyon for 5-1 Victory

Jesse Rosas, Santa Ana High School pitcher, ended Wednesday’s 5-1 victory over Canyon the same way he started it . . . by striking out the side.

In between, Rosas was a master on the mound, allowing only four hits and striking out 12 as host Santa Ana (7-5, 2-0) won its second consecutive Century League game.

Rosas, a junior right-hander, had nine strikeouts after four innings of play and also showed good form at the plate by hitting a two-run single in the fifth inning. Rosas evened his record at 2-2 with a lively fastball that overpowered hitters.

“I felt comfortable and in control from the first inning,” Rosas said. “The fastball was my out pitch most of the game. I wanted the shutout, but I’m glad we won the game.”

Canyon (5-7, 0-2) scored its only run in the sixth inning when shortstop Dan Puskas lined a triple down the right-field line and scored on an infield out.

Canyon’s only other scoring threat was quickly put to an end by Rosas in the fourth inning. The Comanches had runners on first and third with no outs, but Rosas struck out designated hitter Greg Tippin, center fielder Quentas Garcia and right fielder Ryan Puskas.

“He was throwing the ball by everybody,” said Julio Vargas, Santa Ana’s two-time All-Southern Section catcher. “Jesse was getting good location on his fastball, hitting the spots real good.

“He had one inning (the sixth) where he was rushing his pitches, but I went out to the mound and calmed him down.”

Vargas led a modest six-hit attack with two hits and a walk for Santa Ana, driving in one run and scoring another. Santa Ana received four walks and all four hitters eventually scored.

“Three leadoff walks led to three runs,” said Hi Lavalle, Canyon coach. “It was textbook baseball. Rosas was tough, but we knew he was a good pitcher. Of course, I wasn’t prepared for him being as strong as he was today.”

Rosas, who also is the school’s starting quarterback, said he once struck out 13 against Santa Ana Valley as a freshman.

“I haven’t had anybody strike out that many in years,” said Bill Ross, Santa Ana coach. “He was strong, and we needed a complete game going into Friday’s game with Foothill.”

Santa Ana’s pitching staff has been hampered by the loss of Bobby Reimers, who has yet to pitch because of tendinitis in his right shoulder. Ross said Reimers pitched in the bullpen on Monday, but the right-hander is “still a long ways away from pitching.”

In other Century League games:

El Modena 4, Villa Park 1--Marcus Esposito pitched a four-hitter with nine strikeouts and had two hits and an RBI for host El Modena (4-5, 2-0). Jason Wakefield, a sophomore third baseman making his first start, was three for four with an RBI. Mark Carney had two hits for Villa Park.

Foothill 11, Santa Ana Valley 0--Greg Scott (2-1) pitched a three-hitter, striking out four, for Foothill (8-4, 2-0) at Santa Ana Valley. Scott Barton and Mike Gaspar each had two RBIs for the Knights.