SOUTH COAST LEAGUE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Irvine Holds Off Dana Hills’ Late Rallies

It was a day of almosts for the Dana Hills High School baseball team against Irvine Tuesday in the South Coast League.

Dana Hills nearly overcame a 3-0 deficit with rallies in the sixth and seventh innings. Lance Marks, the Dolphins’ slugging catcher, came close to becoming Orange County’s career home run leader.

But in the end, Dana Hills’ playoff chances disappeared and Marks will have to wait to set the record after a 3-2 loss to Irvine.

It was the fifth one-run loss in league play for Dana Hills (13-11-1, 7-7). Irvine (13-12, 8-6) needs another victory against Dana Hills Thursday to clinch third place with Mission Viejo a half-game behind.

“This is a competitive group, and I’m proud as hell of them, but you’ve got to win some of those one-run games to make the playoffs,” said Bob Canary, Dana Hills coach. “It’s very disappointing.”

Marks entered the game tied with former Valencia standout Andy Ruscitto as the county’s career home run leader with 22. He went two for three and had a long fly ball caught at the warning track in center in the third inning.

Marks hit an 0-2 fastball into a strong wind that held it up long enough for Irvine center fielder Mike Booker, who caught it about two feet in front of the fence.

Marks will get another chance at the record Thursday and needs only one hit to reach 100 career hits in three seasons.

Mike Seal (6-7) established a school record for Irvine by striking out six batters, giving him 94 for the season. Rodney Poissant set the school mark of 93 in 1983.

“Mike is the best 6-7 pitcher in the county,” said Bob Flint, Irvine coach. “Mike and Bob Hamelin are the two best competitors I have coached at Irvine. Nobody else comes close.”

Although Marks failed to hit the homer, Flint endorsed the senior for the league’s most valuable player award.

“He’s the best athlete in the league,” Flint said. “He’s a bona fide draft choice with a great future ahead of him.”

In other league games:

Mission Viejo 5, San Clemente 0--Steve Evans (7-5) pitched a three-hitter and had seven strikeouts to lead host Mission Viejo (10-11-2, 7-6-1). Lee Williams hit a three-run home run in the second and Don Disbro had two hits and an RBI.

El Toro 4, Capistrano Valley 3--Greg Pearce (6-2) pitched a seven-hitter and Chris Sauritch had two hits to lead host El Toro (19-6, 11-3). El Toro clinched the league title last week.