BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Valencia Rally Tops Savanna, Clinches Berth in the Playoffs

Valencia’s season has been characterized by peaks and valleys. Thanks to the relief pitching of James Nagel, the Tigers were able to battle back from a seven-run deficit to beat Savanna, 12-7, in an Orange League game Wednesday night at Brookhurst Park.

The victory clinched a playoff spot for Valencia.

Josiah Hensen’s RBI single and Rick Barsh’s sacrifice fly gave Savanna an early lead. The Rebels (8-15, 6-8 in league) scored again in the second on Matt Crockwell’s two-run triple. Hensen and Alfredo Delgadillo walked and scored on Mike Hynes’ double, giving Savanna a 7-0 lead.

But the Tigers (9-5, 13-10) scored seven runs in the third to tie the score. Chris Chavarria walked and scored on Mike Mebane’s triple. Mebane scored on Chris Draft’s sacrifice fly. Franklin Jefferson reached on a fielder’s choice and Bill Eubanks reached when Rebel third baseman David Davis kicked a ground ball. Jefferson scored on Robert Petko’s single and Eubanks scored on a throwing error by catcher Delgadillo. Joe Secoda singled in Petko and reached third when center fielder Hynes could not come up with the ball. Epi Ramirez, who reached base on an error by Davis, scored on Hynes’ error. Chavarria singled home Secoda.

Valencia took the lead in the fourth when Draft singled and scored on a single by Eubanks. Franklin put the game away with a two-run home run in the sixth, giving the Tigers a 10-7 lead.

Valencia scored their final two runs on an RBI single by Ramirez and sacrifice fly by Secoda.

Nagel (5-3), who came on in relief, limited Savanna to four hits and struck out three in 5 2/3 innings.

“That’s twice in two weeks that we’ve been down 7-0 and battled back,” Valencia Coach Mike Scheetz said. “But our kids are used to starting behind and we’re always in the game.”

In another Orange League game:

Brea-Olinda 5, Anaheim 4--John Stoddard, who had three hits with one RBI, scored the go-ahead run for Brea-Olinda (14-9-1, 8-5-1) in the sixth inning on Mike Brambilla’s sacrifice fly to left field, clinching a playoff spot for the Wildcats.