SUNSET LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Fahs Baffles Oilers With Breaking Balls in Fountain Valley’s 3-0 Victory

Derek Fahs continued to baffle hitters with his breaking ball, and the Fountain Valley High School baseball team continued its drive for the Sunset League title.

Fahs threw a one-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Huntington Beach on Tuesday at Fountain Valley.

Fahs, a senior right-hander, struck out 11 and walked three to improve to 7-1 as the first-place Barons (14-3, 3-0) took control of the league race.

“Every time he pitches there’s a little electricity in the air,” Fountain Valley Coach Ron LaRuffa said. “He could pitch a no-hitter any time he’s out there.

“It’s just not fair to put him out there against high school kids. He has a big-time breaking pitch and they just can’t see it.”

Huntington Beach (7-7, 1-1) certainly didn’t. Howie Clark had the Oilers’ only hit, a bunt single in the fourth inning.

“You have to give it to Fahs,” Huntington Beach Coach Mike Dodd said. “He’s one of the best prospects around.

“But we’re not a great hitting club. We have a pretty good pitching staff and we’ve been involved in some low-scoring games. Howie’s one of our main guys.”

Huntington Beach’s John Ward (3-1) took the loss, giving up three runs and five hits over five innings.

Fahs had his share of rough spots, too.

Clark reached on an error to lead off the seventh, and Fahs hit J.P. Rizzo with a pitch to give the Oilers runners on first and second with no outs. But shortstop Jeff Estes turned a double play, and Fahs caught Byron Smith looking at a third strike to end the game.

Fountain Valley gave Fahs all the help he needed with two runs in the third inning.

Paul Zazula led off with a double and scored on a single to left field by Eric Siragusa. Derek Brown and Brian Ponchak walked to load the bases, and Joe Penafor was hit by a pitch to force in Siragusa.

The Barons added an insurance run in the fifth when Brown walked with one out, moved to third on a single by Brad Powers and scored when Powers was caught in a rundown.

LaRuffa said the Barons have been struggling offensively the past couple of weeks. They went 2-2 in the Upper Deck Classic last week.

“We’re really tired right now,” he said. “The kids didn’t have any emotion out there.”

In other Sunset League games:

Edison 9, Santa Ana 7--After allowing two hits, one run and striking out 10 in five innings, Shawn Allbee left the game with a 7-1 lead.

Santa Ana rallied to tie the score, 7-7, in the sixth inning off Josh Gingrich and Phil Jensen. Allbee, who had three hits and three RBIs, had a two-run double in the bottom of the sixth to give Edison the lead.

Allbee then returned to the mound in the seventh, striking out two of the three batters he faced, to record the save. Edison is 8-5, 1-2.

Ocean View 8, Westminster 2--Curtis Bruce’s three-run triple keyed a five-run fourth inning for Ocean View (6-7, 1-2). Sophomore pitcher Jeff Buchanan (1-1) overcame an early 2-0 deficit to earn the victory.