Bolen Helps Hueneme Snag Win

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the seventh inning and Hueneme High leading Chatsworth by two runs in a Westside tournament baseball game Wednesday, Hueneme Coach Reg Welker visited reliever Chris Gonzales.

It was an effort to calm Welker’s nerves as much as it was to soothe Gonzales.

As Welker returned to the dugout, the home plate umpire reminded him that he could meet with Gonzales once more before he had replace his pitcher.

“I’m hoping I don’t have to use that visit,” Welker quipped.

He didn’t.

Second baseman Casey Bolen, who had committed two errors, snagged Matt Gorman’s line drive to give Hueneme a 3-1 win at Chatsworth.

Bolen’s catch was the third strong defensive play for Hueneme (1-2). A fifth-inning rally by Chatsworth failed to produce a run, in part, because Hueneme shortstop Jesse Olivares fielded a ground ball in the hole to record a key out at second and center fielder Scott Cain made a running catch to end the inning.

“Our defense was out of need more than anything,” Welker said. “We’re pretty anemic with the bat.”

But pitchers Frank Adame (1-1) and Gonzales were very strong on the mound. Adame, a senior right-hander who was 10-2 last season, limited Chatsworth (2-1) to one hit in four-plus innings. Gonzales, who held off Chatsworth’s seventh-inning rally, earned the save.

Hueneme took a 1-0 lead in the first. With the bases loaded and one out, Julian Barajas beat out a potential double-play grounder that enabled Olivares to score from third.

Juan Ponce pounced on fastballs for singles in the third and fifth innings to drive in Mike Ortega each time and give Hueneme a 3-0 lead.

Chatsworth, which opened the season last week with two extra-inning victories, was not as productive. Of its first 16 batters, only two hit balls out of the infield; the Chancellors left seven runners in scoring position and 10 on base.

In the seventh, Chatsworth loaded the bases on singles by Ben Yosfan, Scott Monatlik (two for three), and Matt LaCour. With two out, Mark Lopez singled home Yosfan to cut Chatsworth’s deficit to 3-1 and move the tying run to second.

But Gorman lined a 2-and-1 pitch toward Bolen, who leaped and made a backhanded catch. It was a game saver for Hueneme, which began the week ranked third in the Southern Section 4-A Division.

“This win was good for us because we’re looking for some kind of confidence right now,” Welker said.