SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Sophomore Keeps His Cool in Providing Marina’s Relief

Robin Lindsey usually speaks his mind to his teammates, but the Marina High School catcher had to bite his tongue in the fourth inning Saturday night at Anaheim Stadium.

Lindsey had to show some self-control when dealing with sophomore Sean Connors, who pitched 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief in the Vikings’ 6-4 victory over Diamond Bar in the Southern Section 5-A championship game.

“I was scared about what I could say to Connors,” Lindsey said. “He’s a young kid and he takes things hard. I’m a pretty verbal guy and sometimes that’s bad for someone.”

Not for Connors, who relieved starter Sean Patterson with two out in the fourth inning. Connors allowed only one runner past second base, had two strikeouts and a couple walks to improve to 3-3.

“I was really anxious to get out there and pitch,” Connors said. “After the game I couldn’t believe it. We won the 5-A championship.

“Robin helped me a lot. He kept telling me I could get my fastball over the plate and I could do it.”

Marina Coach Paul Renfrow said he never second-guessed his decision to use Connors, though the sophomore hadn’t pitched since the Vikings’ 4-2 victory over Hacienda Heights Wilson in the first round.

“I’m sure (Diamond Bar) prepared for Patterson all the way,” Renfrow said. “We’re fortunate we had a kid the caliber of Connors to put in there.”

Connors made the most of his few opportunities to pitch this season. He spent most of the year in the bullpen, reliving seniors Dave Schultz and Patterson.

“Connors is a team kid and he knows we win with seniors and we don’t cheat them out of a chance to play,” Renfrow said. “That’s why we went with Patterson today. I could have (started) Connors.”

Instead, the lanky left-hander started the day in the dugout. He said he wasn’t surprised when Renfrow called on him.

“He had a lot of confidence in me,” Connors said. “We were in real trouble and I was ready.”

Diamond Bar had runners on first and second with two out when Connors entered the game. He got slugger Jeff Turley, who hit a two-run home run the previous inning, to fly to center field to end the threat.

“I was throwing my fastball all the way,” Connors said. “My curve wasn’t working at all.”

Lindsey said Connors ignored the pressure.

“The kid has a heart the size of Texas,” said Lindsey, whose two-run single in the seventh gave the Vikings the victory. “He went out there and did what he had to. I kept those guys off balance with his fastball.”