BASEBALL : Moreno a Big Hit With Bell

After a rough outing in his previous start, John Moreno had a bit of a problem with confidence. But Bell Coach Henry Santiago never lost faith in his sophomore pitcher Wednesday.

Santiago stuck with Moreno in the Southeastern Conference game against Fremont and it proved to be the right move. The right-hander struck out 13 and drove in the winning run with the first hit of his high school career in Bell’s 2-1 victory over the defending City 3-A champions at Fremont.

The Eagles scored two runs on four consecutive hits in the sixth to overcome a 1-0 deficit.

Chris Gonzalez singled home William Mendez from second with the tying run. Moreno scored Gonzalez with a two-out double to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

“What a way to get your first hit, especially against (the City champion),” Moreno said. “This is something that you’ll always remember.”

The 5-foot-10, 165-pound Moreno never got a chance to bat in his previous start, on March 23 against Locke. He lasted only two-thirds of an inning after allowing three runs and walking four batters.

“I didn’t want to blow my second chance,” Moreno said. “(Fremont) gave me about all I could handle. I wasn’t sure this game was over until the last out.”

Moreno had a strikeout in all but one inning; he struck out the side in the second and seventh innings. Moreno, who struck out 10 batters in a 10-3 nonleague victory in his first start of the season against Marshall, has had 25 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.

“He had a great preseason, but the kid didn’t really believe in himself,” Santiago said. “He needed something to bring himself up.”

Third baseman Art Alderete, who has eight hits in his last three games, had two of Bell’s eight hits off Fremont starter Renaldo Monterrasa, who allowed only three hits through the first five innings.

Gus Preciado doubled home Jose Camacho from first to give Fremont a 1-0 lead in the fourth. The Pathfinders rallied in the sixth, loading the bases with one out on singles by George Soto, Preciado and Renaldo Monterrasa. However, Moreno retired Noe Valdez on a pop fly to end the inning.

Starters: B--Moreno; F--Monterrasa.

WP-- Moreno (2-0) LP--Monterrasa (1-2)

2B: B--Moreno; F--Camacho.

Records: Bell 7-1, 4-1 in conference; Fremont 2-5, 1-4.