CENTURY LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Foothill’s Donnelly Walks Eight, but Wins

Kent Donnelly, who constantly strives for high marks, helped Foothill High School teach Santa Ana Valley another lesson Friday.

Donnelly, a senior who has a 4.0 grade-point average, improved his record to 5-0 by pitching the Knights to a 5-2 Century League victory at Foothill.

The Knights (8-4-1, 5-1-1 in league) have beaten Santa Ana Valley (5-8, 2-5) four times this season.

Donnelly, a hard-throwing right-hander, limited the Falcons to one hit and one run in five innings and helped himself with a run-scoring triple in the fourth. Jason Schwary pitched the final two innings for the save.

Donnelly, who has made an oral commitment to attend USC, struggled with his control. He walked eight and struck out three.

“He was a little too wild,” Foothill Coach Gerry Sedoo said. “He’s had a little trouble with his control the last two outings. I think he’s trying to do too much for the team. He is a good all-around player.”

Foothill took a three-run lead in the second after Clint Pearson led off with a single to left. Shawn Sousa bounced a line drive off Santa Ana Valley pitcher Jose Arroyo for an infield single and Mark Bablot walked to load the bases. Ron Kiino, the ninth hitter in the lineup, lined a 3-1 pitch to left to drive in two runs. Blaine Jones’ bases-loaded infield single accounted for the third run.

Donnelly belted a towering shot over the head of Scott Strong in right-center field for a triple, driving in Keith Baker. Donnelly scored on a wild pitch.

In other Century League games:

Santa Ana 8, Canyon 6 (9 innings)--Jesse Rosas had a bases-loaded single for one run and Daniel Alvarez followed with two-run single to lead Santa Ana (5-8, 2-5). Canyon scored once in the bottom of the ninth. Rosas (4-3) picked up the victory with five innings of relief, striking out five. Greg Tippin singled, doubled, tripled, scored twice and had two RBIs for Canyon (6-6-1, 5-1-1).

Villa Park 3, El Modena 0--Todd Blyleven pitched a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk for host Villa Park (7-5-1, 3-4). Alex Vicario stole home and the Spartans’ other runs came on wild pitches.