Stolen Bases, Bunts Add Up, Oust Sunny Hills

Little things hurt the Sunny Hills baseball team in a big way in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs Friday.

Paramount stole five bases and took advantage of four Sunny Hills errors to upset the second-seeded Lancers, 5-2, despite getting only two hits out of the infield.

Paramount (18-6-1) also bunted three times for base hits and generally drove Sunny Hills crazy with its “little ball” on a infield composed of crushed brick.

“We knew going in that they were going to play the short game and that they were good at it,” Sunny Hills Coach Doug Elliott said. “Today, they were excellent.

“It seemed like every time we walked a guy, he wound up on third. Every time a guy bunted for a base hit, he wound up on third. They took full advantage of their speed in this ballpark.”

Sunny Hills (21-7) scored twice in the first inning on first baseman Rich Orr’s single, which scored Mark Veronda and Tony Martinez. And it looked as if the Lancers were going to put the game out of reach in the second.

Sunny Hills loaded the bases with nobody out on two walks and a bunt by Kenny Overby, but then failed to score. Relief pitcher Steve Lopez, a quarterback who led Paramount’s football team into the Division II title game, showed he’s equally effective on the mound by retiring Veronda, Martinez and Orr.

“That was the turning point in the game,” Paramount Coach John Guggiana said. “I have to take my hat off to Steve. He shut down a team that had been averaging nine runs a game. They could have blown the game open.”

Instead, Paramount chipped away at Sunny Hills’ lead with walks, bunts and stolen bases off losing pitcher Chris Looney (8-3). Paramount’s first run in the second was typical of its attack. Rolando Avila walked, stole second and eventually scored on a passed ball.

Paramount tied the game in the third when Tony Vasquez bunted, stole second and scored when third baseman Martinez threw wildly after fielding a bunt.

Paramount chased Looney in the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits and an errant relay throw by Orr. For a change, the Pirates got two hits out of the infield in wrapping up their fourth postseason victory.