SOUTHERN SECTION 5-A BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Fountain Valley Beats Katella : 5-A: Fahs comes on in relief twice to get a victory and a save. Barons win second-round game, 6-4.

More and more, the fortunes of the Fountain Valley High School baseball team have come to depend on pitcher Derek Fahs. But on Friday, he’s going to need a little help.

At least 1 1/3 innings worth.

Fahs, normally a starter, came on in relief Tuesday to bail out the Barons in the second round of the Southern Section 5-A playoffs. Twice he was brought in with the bases loaded and both times he came through to preserve a 6-4 victory over Katella at Boysen Park.

In all, Fahs worked 4 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking none. He allowed three hits and no runs.

For his efforts, Fahs got the victory, his 13th, and the save, his first. But while he prolonged the Barons’ season, his effort was a little too much.

Under Southern Section rules, a pitcher can get only 30 outs per week. Fahs got 13 outs--albeit important outs--on Tuesday and will be available for only 5 2/3 innings in Friday’s quarterfinal game against Millikan.

“The plan was to use Derek for three innings today, then seven on Friday,” Fountain Valley Coach Ron LaRuffa said. “Derek came through and did his job. But the plan didn’t work out.”

Mainly because the other Baron pitchers couldn’t get many outs.

LaRuffa tried to get four innings out of three pitchers. The closest any of them came was two, turned in by starter Rob Fisher. He was even given a lead in the second on Rich Montgomery’s two-run double, but he couldn’t get out of the third.

Fisher gave up four consecutive hits, two of which were infield singles, at the top of the inning. Fisher left with the bases loaded and the Barons (24-5) clinging to a 2-1 lead.

Enter Fahs, who had pitched seven innings in a first-round victory Friday. He struck out the first two batters he faced and then got Orlando Gonzalez to line to right, ending the inning.

Fountain Valley got some breathing room in the sixth, scoring three runs--two on Brad Powers’ double--to lead, 6-1.

“I thought we had a big enough lead to take Derek out,” LaRuffa said.

Think again.

LaRuffa first turned to sophomore Mark Gardner, who hadn’t pitched in a varsity game in more than a month. Gardner gave up a single and two walks before being replaced by Powers, who walked the one batter he faced.

Re-enter Fahs, who had moved to right field at the start of the innning, with the tying run at the plate. He got out of the jam, striking out Corey Doll to end the inning, then waving goodby to Doll as he walked off the field.