PREP BASEBALL : Roundup : Kennedy Clinches Share of First Place With 9-0 Victory

Greg Hansell pitched a two-hitter, as Kennedy High School clinched at least a tie for first place in the Garden Grove League with a 9-0 victory over Rancho Alamitos Tuesday at Rancho Alamitos.

The Fighting Irish (20-5 overall, 11-2 in league play), who set a school record for victories in a season, have a one-game lead over Pacifica and La Quinta with one game remaining. Kennedy plays host to Bolsa Grande on Thursday.

Hansell (10-1) struck out nine and walked four. He allowed only a pair of singles by David Green.

The Fighting Irish supported Hansell with three home runs. Ernie Franco hit his seventh home run to set a single-season record. Franco had two hits and three runs batted in.

Scott Wood and Scott Walker each had two-run homers. Steve Rath had four hits for Kennedy.

Rancho Alamitos is 12-10 and 6-7.

In other Garden Grove League games:

Bolsa Grande 3, Los Amigos 0--A three-run shot by Andy Miramontes in the third lifted Bolsa Grande (11-12, 4-9) over Los Amigos (6-17, 3-10). Jerry Maldonado (7-6) pitched a four-hitter, striking out seven and walking two for the Matadors.

La Quinta 5, Pacifica 1--Corey Giuliano (11-2) pitched a three-hitter, striking out three, for La Quinta (20-5-1, 10-3). Joe Russo had two hits and two RBIs and Brian Peters two hits and a run scored for La Quinta. Pacifica is 13-10 and 10-3.

Santiago 8, Garden Grove 1--Sophomore pitcher Mike Kissell pitched a seven-hitter and had six strikeouts in his first league start for Santiago (9-14-1, 6-7). Garden Grove is 6-14-1 and 3-10.

In the Empire League:

El Dorado 8, Esperanza 0--Jay Hassell (3-1) pitched a four-hitter, striking out nine, for El Dorado (19-8, 9-5) at Esperanza. The Golden Hawks scored three runs in the first, two on Phil Nevin’s seventh home run of the season. Greg Fife had three hits, two runs scored and an RBI for El Dorado.

Katella 6, Loara 4--The Knights (14-10, 8-6) scored four runs in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead at Boysen Park. Jamie Vitzelio had a two-run single and Dennis Briggs a two-run double in the inning. Loara is 13-11 and 10-4.

The Empire League game between Cypress and Los Alamitos at Los Alamitos was postponed Tuesday when no umpires showed up. The game will be played today at 3:15 p.m. at Los Alamitos.

In the Sea View League:

Estancia 4, University 3--The Eagles (18-6, 11-3) scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh for the victory. After Estancia loaded the bases with one out, Sean Nichols hit a grounder between first and second. Nichols was thrown out at first, but both Clayton Nelson and Jason White scored to tie the score, 3-3. Bill Gomez then doubled to score pinch-runner Mike Curtis with the game-winning run. University is 10-13-1 and 7-7.

Saddleback 6, Newport Harbor 0--Sean Simon (4-3) pitched a five-hitter, striking out two, for the Roadrunners (12-12, 8-6) at Saddleback. Chad Jarrett had two hits and three RBIs for Saddleback.

Tustin 10, Corona del Mar 1--Monte Jones had two hits and five RBIs for the Tillers (16-8, 11-3) at Tustin. Dave Sagan had a two-run homer for the Tillers. Danny Baker (7-2) allowed five hits in six innings for the victory. Corona del Mar is 7-16 and 4-10.

In the South Coast League:

El Toro 3, Irvine 2--Outfielder David Nemeth drove in two runs with a single and a double and junior Rob Johnson (8-3) pitched a complete game for El Toro (15-10, 7-7) in Irvine. Irvine (12-12, 7-7) travels to El Toro on Thursday with the winner advancing to the Southern Section 4-A division playoffs as the league’s third-place team.

Mission Viejo 4, Dana Hills 3--Dave Disbro and and Jeff Hawkins both had RBI singles with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as the Diablos (17-6, 10-4) clinched the league title. Hawkins had two hits and two RBIs. Hawkins (3-0) also pitched a five-hitter, striking out five. Lance Marks had a solo home run for Dana Hills (8-15-1, 4-10).

San Clemente 2, Capistrano Valley 1--Ken Dolan (3-6) pitched a five-hitter, striking out six, for the Tritons (6-17, 6-8) at San Clemente. Dolan struck out the side to end the game. Mike Murphy had a two-run homer in the first for San Clemente. John MacKay had three hits and an RBI for Capistrano Valley (15-9, 8-6).

In the Sunset League:

Ocean View 6, Edison 3--John Arnold went two for two with a solo home run and two RBIs, and Cory Colbert also hit a solo home run to help Ocean View (16-9, 8-6) clinch the third playoff spot in the league. Brent Woken (6-3) pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks. Edison is 8-11-2 and 6-8.

Marina 3, Fountain Valley 2 (8 innings)--With the score tied, 2-2, and two men on in the bottom of the eighth, Chris Stevens hit a single to right-center to bring home Paul Newfield with the winning run and help last-place Marina (12-13, 5-0) upset Fountain Valley (16-8, 9-5). Stevens also was the winning pitcher, tossing a one-hitter with five strikeouts and four walks in seven innings. Fountain Valley and Westminster are tied for first with one game remaining in the season.

Westminster 8, Huntington Beach 7--Brett Grebe had two hits and three RBIs for Westminster (17-7-1, 9-5) at Huntington Beach. Grebe (9-3) also pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for the victory. Ryan Klesko had a solo home run for Westminster. Jason Brissey had two hits for Huntington Beach (9-15, 5-9).