Prep Baseball : Sea View League Roundup : Tustin Breaks Estancia Grip in a Big Way

Tustin High School has had more than a few problems against Estancia pitchers this season.

The Tillers hadn’t scored a run against the Eagles in 12 innings. They were shut out Wednesday by Estancia, putting the two teams in a tie for first place in the Sea View League.

Things have been so bad that Tustin Coach Vince Brown taped a photo of Estancia starting pitcher Greg Brannis in the Tiller dugout before Friday’s game.

Well, it took a while, but it worked.

The Tillers vented their frustration Friday with a 13-run sixth-inning for a 14-5 rout-from-behind victory at Tustin.

The victory moved the Tillers into first place, one game ahead of Estancia.

“With the problems we’ve had scoring runs against them this year, Estancia must have felt pretty good about having a four-run lead in the sixth,” Brown said. “But once we broke through, it became a tidal wave.”

After Ted Wieczorek led off the sixth with homer to cut the deficit to 5-2, the Tillers loaded the bases with no outs.

Brown then reached deep into his dugout to find someone to create the breakthrough. Pete Gerlach was sent up to pinch-hit for shortstop Erik Lagafuaina.

Gerlach, a reserve outfielder, was hitless in five previous at-bats this season.

But on Friday he lashed a two-strike pitch down the right-field line, scoring three runs to tie the score, 5-5.

“It was just a hunch,” Brown said. “Yesterday we had worked on a few things and corrected a flaw in his swing.”

After Gerlach’s triple, Clayton Nelson replaced Brannis and gave up a single to Shawn Green, which gave the Tillers (12-7 overall, 7-2 in league play) a 6-5 lead.

From then on, it became batting practice.

Everyone in the Tustin lineup, with exception of Dave Sagan, got a hit. Everyone scored a run, some two.

“Once Gerlach tied the score, everyone relaxed and began hitting like they are capable,” Brown said.

The benefactor of the offensive awakening was pitcher Dan Baker, who went the distance for the victory.

Baker (4-2) had struck out 14 in a one-hitter a week ago, but on Friday he was wild through the first three innings. He walked four batters, hit another, and committed a balk.

He also served up a three-run homer to Mark Hartley in the second, which gave Estancia (13-6, 6-3) a 3-0 lead.

Baker, who finished with 13 strikeouts, gathered momentum after working out of a base-loaded jam in the third. But, by then, it looked too late.

“After the third inning I told the guys in dugout they had to come through for me,” Baker said. “I told them I needed their help.”

In the sixth, the Tillers honored that request.

Corona del Mar 12, Newport Harbor 5--Second baseman Greg Haack was three for three and knocked in four runs to lead Corona del Mar (6-12, 3-6). First baseman Todd Kehrli hit a three-run homer in a nine-run first inning for Corona del Mar. Left-hander Matt Goldstein picked up his second league victory. Newport Harbor dropped to 1-8 in league play.

University 4, Saddleback 0--Senior left-hander Kevin Squires (4-2) pitched a one-hitter with five strikeouts for host University (8-10-1, 5-4). First baseman Al Marlinga went two for three with two RBIs for University. Saddleback is 5-4 in league play.