BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Esperanza Does Just Enough to Win

Esperanza’s 4-2 victory over Katella Thursday was the type of game the Aztecs seem to always pull out.

Their hits were few, but timely. Their pitching was so-so, but they got clutch outs. And they made the most of opponents’ errors and mental lapses.

Esperanza was not overwhelming, just good enough.

“If you make a mistake, we’re going to advantage,” Coach Mike Curran said. “We’ve always liked to think that way.”

Katella did, and it was costly.

The Aztecs (8-3, 4-1) capitalized on two errors by second baseman Jae Park. They also were bailed out when the Knights got confused with some creative base running.

“We beat ourselves,” Coach Tim McMenamin said.

The Knights ran themselves out of runs. They had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth, but both were tagged out in a run down. Katella failed twice on sacrifice attempts in the early innings.

It was much more than Marcus Jones (4-1) needed. He went 5 1/3 tumultuous innings, stranding five runners in scoring position. Scott Hild retired the final five batters for the save.

“Scott shut them down without a whimper,” Curran said.

Things weren’t much better in the field for Katella (8-4, 2-3).

The Aztecs, ranked eighth in the county, didn’t do much at the plate, but five of their six hits went for extra bases. Pancho Ruiz had two hits, including a triple, and drove in two runs.

Still, Katella’s George Schalip (3-3) pitched well enough to win. A day after going 4 2/3 innings against Los Alamitos, he went five, striking out seven.

But the Knights provided opportunities.

Park allowed a run in the first when he misplayed a throw from catcher Alex Alvarez. Sal Hernandez, who had doubled, scored on the play.

Katella was trailing, 3-2, in the seventh when Park made his second error. With one out, Billy O’Conner tripled to right field and scored when Park overthrew the relay man.