LOARA BASEBALL TOURNAMENT : Rivera’s Throw Gives Ocean View a Victory

Ocean View center fielder Steve Rivera threw out Scott Seal at the plate to stop an Irvine rally and preserve an 8-7 Seahawk victory in the semifinals of the Loara tournament Thursday night at Glover Stadium in Anaheim.

Rivera, who had dropped Jeff Noisy’s towering fly ball to open the door to a two-run Irvine inning in the fifth, made amends by catching Chris Greinke’s fly in deep center and getting Seal, who was attempting to score the tying run from third.

Ocean View (4-0) will meet Huntington Beach, a 4-0 victor over Diamond Bar, at 7 p.m. Saturday at Glover Stadium for the tournament championship.

“Dropping that fly ball in the fifth wasn’t characteristic of him,” Seahawk Coach Steve Barnett said. “But he comes back and redeems himself by getting Seal who has good wheels coming in from third. We think he’s the best defensive player in the Southern Section.”

Irvine (3-1), the top-rated team in Orange County, trailed, 8-4, going into the bottom of the seventh. But Ocean View starter Justin Brunette lost his control. Two walks and an error loaded the bases. Irvine designated hitter Eric Sobek hit a two-run double to center and Seal walked in a run to close the gap to one run.