SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Ocean View Ends Drake’s Long Run

It was the end of a long, successful high school baseball coaching career for Mission Viejo’s Ron Drake and his Diablos didn’t go out quietly.

Drake watched Mission Viejo’s rally in the seventh inning fall short and Ocean View held on to a 9-8 wild-card victory Tuesday at Ocean View High School.

With the victory, the Seahawks (20-8) advanced to the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs, where they will meet Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula (18-6) Friday at Peninsula.

For Mission Viejo (13-12) and Drake, only the memories remain.

Drake, 48, resigned during the season. The 17-year veteran leaves with a 247-136 record at Mission Viejo.

“You can’t hang your head, especially after you’ve battled and come back,” Drake said. “I feel real good with our effort.”

Mission Viejo trailed, 9-2, after a seven-run Seahawk outburst in the sixth inning broke a 2-2 tie.

Seahawk catcher Mike Bellovich’s three-run home run was the big blow in the inning.

Diablo shortstop Todd Reinhart’s inability to short-hop Gary Delachica’s chopper, a walk to Steve Rivera and relief pitcher Adrian Amposta’s overthrow of third base after fielding Scott Foreman’s bunt broke the tie. Justin Brunette singled in a run before Bellovich’s home run, his seventh of the season.

Two run-scoring singles by Brad Churchill and Johnny Messick appeared to give Ocean View a comfortable 9-2 lead, but the Diablos came back.

Eric Fielding ignited the rally with a two-run home run over the left-field fence, his first of the year. Brandon Becker walked in a run with the bases loaded, Ty Kalklosh drove in a run with an infield hit and John Higashi lined a bases-loaded single to center field, scoring two to make it 9-8.

But Ocean View relief pitcher Brunette got Reinhart to pop up to second to quell the Diablo comeback.

In a Division II wild-card game:

Sunny Hills 4, Western 1--Bobby Sunderland, who gave up six hits, one earned run and struck out eight in seven innings, scored Keith Wescott and Kevin Garand on a two-out triple in the fifth for host Sunny Hills (18-8-1 overall). Temecula Valley will play host to Sunny Hills at 3 p.m. Friday.