PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Mater Dei Helps Servite to Victory

Servite baseball Coach Mike McNary says his team must take advantage of every opportunity it gets to win games. On Wednesday, Mater Dei provided the openings and the Friars responded. Servite broke open a close game with five runs in the sixth inning and defeated the Monarchs, 9-2, in an Angelus League game at Mater Dei.

“It’s a key win for us because (Bishop) Amat and (St. John) Bosco are the top guns in the league,” McNary said. “And it looks like it’s going to be us and Mater Dei for the third playoff spot.”

Leading, 4-2, the Friars (9-6, 3-1 in league) took advantage of three hits, two Mater Dei errors and a hit batsman in the sixth inning for their second victory in two meetings this season with the Monarchs (6-7, 2-2). The teams play again Saturday at Servite.

Third baseman Joe Vargas got the rally going in the sixth for Servite with a leadoff single to right field. Mater Dei right-hander Mike Daems, who came on in relief of starter Rick Silva in the fifth, then bobbled Chris Belavic’s bunt, putting runners at first and second with no outs.

After a single to left by shortstop Cliff Mierendorf to load the bases, second baseman Josh Kliner was hit by a pitch and first baseman Chris Honikel was walked. Mater Dei Coach Bob Ickes replaced Daems with left-hander Steve Locascio, who got pitcher and cleanup hitter Steve Sandoval on a sacrifice line drive to center field and left-fielder Marcelino Sandoval on a fly to left.

Servite designated hitter Matt Muller followed with a shot down the left-field line to drive in Kliner from second, and Honikel scored from first when left fielder Matt De Sales misplayed the ball.

Mater Dei couldn’t capitalize on right-hander Steve Sandoval’s three walks in the first inning. Sandoval helped to bail himself out by picking off Rick Ellis at second base. Catcher Jake Spielman then picked off Dave Gonzalez at first base.

Sandoval went five innings for his third victory of the season without a loss, with Adam Anderson pitching the final two innings.

In the Garden Grove League:

La Quinta 6, Bolsa Grande 3--A Bolsa Grande throwing error led to two unearned runs for visiting La Quinta (15-2, 5-0), breaking a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning.

Garden Grove 4, Pacifica 2--Brandon Hoalton (2-3) allowed four hits, striking out nine and walking two for visiting Garden Grove (5-6, 3-2).

Rancho Alamitos 12, Los Amigos 7--Brian Forgey had a grand slam in the third inning and Nathan Freeman had two hits and four RBIs for host Rancho Alamitos (4-6, 1-4).

Santiago 11, Kennedy 8--Louie Perez and Scott McGarrh hit home runs for Santiago (10-6, 3-1) at Kennedy.

In the Freeway League:

Troy 5, Fullerton 4--Steve Friedrich hit his ninth home run, a fourth-inning grand slam, and stole home for the first run of the game for host Troy (10-3, 5-1). Fullerton (7-7, 1-5) scored all of its runs on D.C. Olsen’s two bases-empty home runs, and David Chacon’s sixth inning two-run homer.

La Habra 6, Buena Park 1--Scott Veeder (5-2) pitched a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts for host La Habra (6-4, 4-2).

In Orange League baseball:

Magnolia 6, Western 4--Donnie Darby had two hits and four RBIs for visiting Magnolia (6-7, 3-3), which scored four runs in the seventh inning.

Anaheim 6, Brea-Olinda 4--Host Anaheim (7-9, 4-2) broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, and Jeff Kafoury struck out two in the seventh to save the victory for Angel Rivera (4-1).

In the Sea View League:

Saddleback 4, Corona del Mar 0--Ralph Lopez pitched a five-hitter to lead Saddleback (6-7-1, 2-3-1) at Corona del Mar. Lopez (3-1) struck out six batters. David Madrid had a two-run homer in the second inning for Saddleback.

Newport Harbor 9, Woodbridge 2--Host Newport Harbor’s Chris Carden had a two-run single in the sixth inning to spark a five-run outburst that broke open a 4-2 game.

In the South Coast League:

El Toro 9, Capistrano Valley 2--Rob Johnson hit his second home run of the season, a two-run homer in the fourth for visiting El Toro (10-7, 4-2). Marc Verwayne (5-1) gave up six hits, struck out two and walked one.

Dana Hills 6, Irvine 3--Keith Barnett hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth to give Dana Hills (9-6, 3-3) the lead.