FREEWAY LEAGUE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Surprising Buena Park Wins Fourth in a Row

Buena Park High School’s baseball team had a total of five victories in the past three seasons, so nothing seemed out of place when the Coyotes lost their first five games this year.

But after defeating Sunny Hills, 8-4, Wednesday at Buena Park, the Coyotes find themselves in an unexpected spot--first place in the Freeway League.

“The surprises keep on coming don’t they?” Buena Park Coach Dave Meggison said after the Coyotes’ fourth consecutive league victory.

Meggison, a first-year teacher whose previous coaching experience is limited to slow-pitch softball and Little League, said he didn’t know what to expect when he took over Buena Park’s team, which was 2-20 last season.

“We knew the kids had some talent,” Meggison said. “The team was so undisciplined and in such disarray last season that we didn’t know how we would do. But they responded well and the entire team is working really hard.”

Last week, the Coyotes (4-5 overall, 4-0 in league) scored 10 runs in a victory over Troy and 11 in defeating Fullerton. Against Sunny Hills, paced by the heart of their lineup--Adam Townson, John Synohui and Martin Chavez--Buena Park kept rolling.

Townson hit his second home run of the season in the first inning and Chavez hit his third in the third. Chavez’s hit, with a man on base, gave Buena Park a 4-2 lead, which was extended to 5-2 in the fifth when leadoff hitter Armando Robles singled in Romero Jaime.

Meanwhile, Buena Park pitcher Andy Carey settled down after struggling early. After the third inning when he allowed Jason Sugarman to score on a wild pitch, Carey retired all six batters in order in the next two innings, striking out three.

But Sugarman opened the sixth with a home run and Carey walked his fourth batter, Ryan Frace, who later scored on a throwing error by third baseman Townson.

Synohui then replaced Carey and, after another error by Townson, got the final two outs of the inning. With two outs, Buena Park scored three in the bottom of the sixth, and Synohui retired the three Sunny Hills batters he faced in the seventh.

Sonora 14, Fullerton 8--Daron Drake had four hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs and Marcos Pando had two hits and three RBIs for visiting Sonora. Jeff Knowles (2-1) pitched the final 4 2/3 innings for the victory.

La Habra 3, Troy 0--Scott Veeder pitched a four-hitter, striking out six and walking one to lead host La Habra (3-7, 2-2). Gil Magdaleno and Matt Smith each had two hits. Troy is 1-3 in league.