PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Bunt Goes a Long Way in El Toro’s Victory Over Capistrano Valley

In a game that included six doubles and two homers among 19 hits, a perfectly executed bunt by Fran Meza was the key hit in El Toro’s 6-4 victory over Capistrano Valley in a South Coast League game Friday at El Toro.

Meza, a pinch-hitter, dropped a bunt single between the mound and third base with nobody out and a runner at second in the sixth inning, sparking El Toro’s two-run rally. The victory kept the Chargers (11-7, 5-2) in first place in the six-team league.

El Toro broke a 4-4 tie in the inning when Sal Schachter grounded into a force play, scoring Wade Jackson. Schachter scored the sixth run when catcher Chad Hoelker lined a single to right.

“You couldn’t ask for a better bunt,” El Toro Coach Dan DeLeon said. “It was an automatic situation, yet the kid executed the play perfectly for a hit.”

Rob Johnson (4-1) retired the final seven Capistrano Valley batters and allowed only two hits after the second inning to earn the victory after a shaky start.

Capistrano Valley (9-7-1, 2-4-1) scored three runs in the second inning off Johnson to take a 4-1 lead. Shortstop Tim Lyons lined a two-run homer over the left-field fence to give Capistrano Valley a 3-1 lead and Chris Lugo also homered in the inning.

“I wasn’t pleased with our performance in the first two innings,” DeLeon said. “Rob was rushing pitches and losing sight of his location. We botched some potential double plays, but he kept battling.

“I thought Rob settled down after the second inning and started throwing his offspeed pitches for strikes. He was really competitive out there the last three innings.”

El Toro scored runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings to tie the score, 4-4, off losing pitcher Scott Patton (3-2). Brian Haas, Wade Jackson and Jason Santoro each drove in runs with doubles. El Toro collected 12 hits in all.

“They hit in clutch situations and executed that bunt and a hit-and-run in the sixth that turned the game around,” Capistrano Valley Coach Bob Zamora said.

Despite being swept in the three-game series and falling behind El Toro by 2 1/2 games, Zamora felt his team has a chance to win the league title.

“We have eight games left, and we could still win this league,” he said. “Call me the eternal optimist, but the league race will go down to the final day, and we still have a chance.”

Capistrano Valley got seven hits, but five of those came in the opening two innings when Johnson had difficulty keeping his fastball down and getting his curveball over the plate. Lyons had a homer, a single and two RBIs, and Lugo scored twice in the loss.

In other South Coast League games:

Dana Hills 7, Irvine 2--John Spaulding (6-0) gave up three hits in 5 2/3 innings, and Keith Barnett had a double and a bases-empty home run for host Dana Hills (10-6, 4-3).

Mission Viejo 8, San Clemente 7 (11 innings)--Tim Cunningham singled to right with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th inning for Mission Viejo (8-7, 3-4). Jeff Carr’s two-out double started the rally, and Doug Roberson got an infield hit and Mike Doucher walked intentionally to load the bases. Lee Williams had three hits and two RBIs, and Tim Snowden (1-0) pitched two innings of relief for the victory for Mission Viejo. San Clemente scored twice in the sixth inning to tie the score at 7-7. Mission Viejo came inches away from winning in the 10th inning when Mike Bouche lofted a ball that hit the top of the center field fence, 380 feet out, but the ball bounced back onto the field and Bouche settled for a triple.

In the Academy League:

Liberty Christian 14, Heritage Christian 3--Jeremy Anderson had three hits and two RBIs, Jon Bucher had two hits and three RBIs, and Ryan Dennee had two doubles for Liberty Christian (9-4, 1-1).

In the Century League:

El Modena 9, Canyon 3--Darrin Knudson (3-0) took over in the fourth with no outs and allowed one hit while striking out four over the final four innings. Jason Wakefield had a three-run home run, Kevin Slagel had two doubles and Gavin Brown had three hits and an RBI for El Modena (8-4, 5-2), which remained in first place.

Orange 10, Foothill 7--Orange rallied with seven runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-7 lead. Chris Lister had two hits and three RBIs for Orange. Eli Modee had two hits and two RBIs for Foothill (6-9, 3-4).

Villa Park 8, Santa Ana Valley 5--Aaron Boone had four hits, including a double and a triple, and Andy Evans had two hits and two RBIs for visiting Villa Park (8-9, 5-2).

In the Freeway League:

Fullerton 6, Troy 3--David Chacon hit a three-run home run in the first inning and Keith Ginter hit a three-run homer in the second for host Fullerton (8-7, 2-5). Jerry Martinez (3-1) pitched a five-hitter, striking out four. Steve Friedrich had three singles for Troy.

Sunny Hills 11, Sonora 3--Chris Looney (4-2) struck out eight and allowed seven hits. Looney also had three hits, including a home run and a double, and three RBIs for host Sunny Hills (12-4, 7-0).

In the Garden Grove League:

Garden Grove 6, Rancho Alamitos 1--Joe Aguirre had three hits, scored three runs, and had two RBIs for Garden Grove (6-6, 4-2). He also pitched five innings, allowing two hits and striking out six.

Pacifica 17, Bolsa Grande 0--Eric Stevens had three hits and two RBIs, and Mike Way had three hits, including a triple, and two RBIs for Pacifica. Tony Ferraro (2-5) allowed five hits and struck out seven for Pacifica (9-9, 3-3).

Santiago 4, La Quinta 2--Louie Perez (3-2) allowed three hits in six innings and Enele Scanlan pitched the seventh inning to earn his third save this week, his sixth save of the season for host Santiago (12-6, 5-1), which moved into a tie for first place. Todd DeVaney and Mike Kissell each had two hits for Santiago, which scored three runs in the first inning. La Quinta fell to 15-3 and 5-1.

In the Olympic League:

Valley Christian 6, Orange Lutheran 4--Jim Wells’ two-run home run in the top of the seventh gave Valley Christian (11-0, 6-0) a 6-4 lead.

Whitney 11, Whittier Christian 9--Scott Bobick drove in three runs with a two-out, bases-loaded double in the fourth inning to put host Whitney (10-3, 4-2) ahead, 10-8. Bobick (1-0), the second of three Whitney pitchers, got the victory.

In the Orange League:

Anaheim 6, Western 4--David Geary had three hits and two RBIs for visiting Anaheim (8-9, 5-2).

Brea-Olinda 3, Savanna 0--Pat Simec pitched a three-hitter and struck out four for host Brea-Olinda (9-8, 5-2).

Magnolia 4, Valencia 3--With the score tied, 3-3, in the sixth inning, Jason Kuncewicki singled, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and then scored on another wild pitch for host Magnolia (7-7, 4-3). Richard Nunno (3-2) struck out five and walked none in a complete-game victory. Valencia is 7-7, 4-3.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Estancia 13, Laguna Beach 3--Chris Watson (5-1) allowed eight hits, striking out six and walking none for Estancia (9-4, 6-1). Paul McDaniels had three hits, including a home run, and four RBIs.

In the Sea View League:

Saddleback 3, Corona del Mar 1--Carlos Cevalos allowed six hits and Luis Estrella picked up the save for host Saddleback. Al Valverde had a run-scoring single in the first inning and Estrella was two for two for Saddleback (7-7-1, 3-3-1).

Tustin 7, University 1--Ben Munoz had three hits and scored a run, and Andy Gonzales pitched a three-hitter, striking out three and walking one for host Tustin (11-4, 7-0).

Woodbridge 7, Newport Harbor 4--Damon Mazzano had three hits and three RBIs and Trent Zappen had two hits for host Woodbridge (3-8, 2-5). Zappen pitched six innings and allowed six hits, striking out nine and walking three for the victory.

In the Sunset League:

Huntington Beach 5, Marina 0--Derek Glascoe (4-1) pitched a three-hitter, striking out 11 for the Oilers. Howie Clark drove in three runs with a third-inning triple for Huntington Beach (9-8-1, 3-2). Marina is 8-8, 1-4.

In a nonleague game:

Santa Ana 13, Dominguez 1--Joey Martinez (3-1) pitched five innings for the victory. Victor Franco had four hits--including two doubles--with two RBIs, and Danny Alvarez had three hits, scored three runs and had three RBIs for host Santa Ana (9-4).