SOUTHERN SECTION 4-A BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Capistrano Valley Edges Troy : Division 4-A: Cougars continue improved play in postseason with 2-1 victory.

Five weeks ago, Capistrano Valley’s baseball team was floundering in the cellar of the South Coast League with a 2-5-1 record. Morale had hit rock bottom in what appeared to be a losing season.

Capistrano Valley Coach Bob Zamora asked his players to elect some team captains and then gave them one piece of advice heading into the second round of league play.

“We were playing some really bad baseball, and I told the kids that they didn’t have to like each other, just get along with one another,” Zamora said. “The talent was always there, but everyone was pulling in different directions.”

The only direction Capistrano Valley appears to be headed in these days is Anaheim Stadium, site of the Southern Section 4-A title game. The Cougars gained their ninth victory in 11 games by defeating Troy, 2-1, Tuesday.

Catcher Brand Caso bounced a single up the middle in the fifth inning that drove in Scott Patton with the winning run, and pitcher Travis Burgus retired Troy’s Steve Friedrich with two runners on for the game’s final out.

It was the fourth postseason victory for Capistrano Valley, including a playoff with Irvine for third place in the league. The Cougars then beat Redondo in a section wild-card game and El Modena in the first round. “We should be playing in Anaheim Stadium now,” Zamora said.

Well, not quite. Capistrano Valley (18-10-1) will need two more victories--beginning Friday against Arlington in the quarterfinals--to reach the Big A on June 1.

Burgus (9-2) allowed a run in the first inning when Troy’s Ryan Russell singled and then stole second and third before scoring on a single by Brent Lacher. Burgus went on to strike out seven and got a big assist from Caso, who threw out two runners attempting to steal.

Capistrano Valley tied the game in the fourth when Cade Gaspar opened with a double and scored on a single by designated hitter Eric Kemper. The Cougars got seven hits off losing pitcher Guy Pinelli (9-4), but also struck out nine times in six innings.

Troy (16-9) got three of its seven hits off Burgus in the seventh inning but had nothing to show for it. Greg Windle led off the inning with a single, but was thrown out by Caso while trying to steal second.

Mark Pocinich and Brandon Avey singled with two outs, bringing Friedrich to the plate. Friedrich led the county with 10 homers and 37 runs batted in, but he grounded out to short, ending Troy’s season.