SANTA ANA ELKS TOURNAMENT : Tustin Comes Through in Pinch to Slip Past No. 1 Ocean View, 4-3

Andy Gonzales’ first hit of the season gave relief pitcher Ben Strack his first win of the year in Tustin High School’s 4-3 victory over Ocean View Monday at Tustin High.

The game pitted Ocean View, the top-ranked team in the Orange County Sportswriters’ Assn. prep baseball poll, against the second-ranked Tillers in the second round of the 26th Santa Ana Elks tournament.

The teams played a quality game that didn’t end until Gonzales’ pinch-hit in the 10th inning.

Tustin (14-1) held a 3-1 lead after five innings, but Ocean View tied the score with runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Tustin starter Bill Courtney allowed only six hits through 8 1/3 innings but left the game after he twisted his left ankle fielding a bunt in the ninth.

Ocean View (13-3) had its share of early scoring opportunities, getting six walks in five innings. But the Seahawks failed to get a timely hit against Courtney until they tied the score in the late innings.

Ocean View’s Duane Page (6-1) pitched four scoreless innings in relief of starter Jim Gwaltney, but the right-hander gave up a single and then walked two to load the bases in the 10th, setting up Gonzales’ winning hit.

Gonzales squibbed a short fly ball over a drawn-in infield to drive in Ben Munoz. Gonzales said he hit a pitch “that sort of wiggled” for the game-winner.

“I was trying to get Andy’s confidence back in the situation,” said assistant coach Bruce King, who was filling in for Vince Brown. Brown is visiting his younger brother, Gerran, who serves in the Peace Corps in Honduras.

“Andy hurt his shoulder in the first week of the season and hasn’t done anything for a month. He’s a good contact hitter who just needs to get his confidence back.”

Strack (1-1) escaped a jam in the 10th when Tustin left fielder Brett Hardy made a fine running catch and doubled a runner off second to end the inning.

“I thought the ball was going to fall in there, but the kid made a great play,” said Steve Barrett, Ocean View coach.

In other second-round games:

Villa Park 6, Diamond Bar 0--Todd Wilson (3-2) pitched a three-hitter and struck out nine and Jason Martian drove in two with a single in the seventh for Villa Park (9-5-1). Mike Stephens stole home in the fourth inning for the Spartans.

Los Alamitos 11, Orange 9--The Griffins rallied from a 9-5 deficit with three runs in the fifth inning and three more in the sixth. Tony Napolitano hit a two-run homer in the second for Los Alamitos. Jeff Peterson had three hits and four RBIs for Orange.

El Toro 1, Pacifica 0--Greg Pearce pitched a five-hitter, striking out one, to lead El Toro at Santa Ana. Tim Powers had an RBI single in the third for the Chargers.

In consolation games:

Santa Ana Valley 8, Foothill 1--Scott Crosby had three hits, including two home runs, to lead Santa Ana Valley (6-8) at Tustin. Crosby also pitched six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out five, for the victory.

Gahr 4, Santa Ana 3 (12 innings)--Jose Betran’s sacrifice fly with one out in the 12th inning gave Gahr the victory at Santa Ana. Bill Bergeron had three hits for Gahr. Jose Morales had three hits and two RBIs for Santa Ana (5-10).

Mission Viejo 6, Saddleback 5 (12 innings)--Don Bisbro led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to tie the score, 5-5, and Tim Snowden’s one-out single scored Lee Williams from second in the 12th. Snowden was four for seven.