Trachsel Does the Expected : He Keeps Fullerton in Legion Series With a Seven-Hit Victory

Right-hander Steve Trachsel has become so adept at finishing what he starts that Fullerton Angels co-Coach Dan Robinson figures it would take a minor miracle to prompt Trachsel’s removal from the mound.

If not a pair of vice grips.

“When Steve starts,” Robinson said, “you can’t get the ball out of his hand. You can’t rip it away from him.”

Trachsel, the most valuable player in the Region 8 tournament last week and a sophomore at Fullerton College, pitched a seven-hitter as Fullerton stayed alive in the American Legion World Series Thursday with a 6-2 victory over Richmond, Va.

It was the ninth complete game for Trachsel, who entered the Series with an earned-run average of 1.03. He struck out eight and walked two.

Fullerton (39-9) will play Janesville, Wis., today at 11:05 a.m. (PDT). Janesville (42-7) lost to Woodland Hills, 3-1, Thursday night.

The Angels scored three times in the second inning and Trachsel (13-1) keyed the attack with a leadoff single to center. With one out, Darby Carmichael singled to right and Shane Borowski--who added a solo home run in the seventh-- doubled in Trachsel with a shot into left. Mike Hudak followed with a single to right, scoring Carmichael, and Steve Friedrich singled in Borowski for a 3-0 lead.

Fullerton stranded two runners in the inning--and 11 overall for a total of 23 in two games--but Robinson said he was hardly concerned.

“It’s probably kind of a bad way to feel, but with (Trachsel) out there, we don’t need that many runs,” Robinson said.

Friedrich, who batted ninth in Fullerton’s 8-4 loss to Gonzales, La., on Wednesday, had two hits after being elevated to the leadoff position.

“He was definitely a catalyst,” Robinson said. “We haven’t made any lineup changes in a long time, but we needed someone to have a higher on-base percentage and Friedrich has been getting it done.”

Sparked by singles by Friedrich and Hudak, the Angels added two unearned runs in the fourth to take a 5-1 lead.

Borowski, who starts at first base when Trachsel pitches, finished with two hits and two RBIs. Trachsel and Hudak also had two hits.