THE PREPS : ORANGE LEAGUE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Hartman No-Hits Brea Olinda, Ends Savanna’s Slide

Russell Hartman made sure in dramatic fashion Friday that Savanna’s five-game losing streak ended, pitching a no-hitter against Brea Olinda in a 2-0 Orange League victory at Savanna.

On the crisp, windy afternoon, the lean senior right-hander overpowered the Wildcats by striking out 14 in seven innings. Hartman struck out every Brea Olinda batter at least once except Dan Smith, who walked, reached on a fielder’s choice and grounded out to short.

Hartman (2-2), who threw 112 pitches, finished by striking out the side in the sixth and seventh. He did have to work through two walks and two wild pitches in the final inning, stranding runners at first and third.

Along with the seventh, the fourth inning was the only other inning Brea Olinda (4-3, 2-1) threatened. With two out, Matt Weyant reached third after Rebel right fielder Mike Manley dropped Weyant’s fly ball in the swirling winds for a three-base error, and Hartman hit Ryan Knuth in the shoulder. Hartman, however, got Todd Deck to ground out to third.

“I could tell during my warmups that I had all my stuff working,” said Hartman, who counts a fastball, circle change, curve and slider among his repertoire. “And the wind helped the slider, really made it move.”

Brea Olinda left-hander Bryan Robinson (1-2), who also pitched a complete game, gave up two earned runs and five hits, struck out two and walked three in six innings. But his teammates did not provide offensive support.

Savanna (3-9, 1-2) got Hartman the only run he needed in the bottom of the first when Shawn Larsen led off with a single, went to third on a wild pickoff throw by Robinson, and scored on Trevor Francis’ base hit to right. Manley got Hartman some insurance in the third with a homer to right center, his second.

“After Manley’s homer I knew we were going to win,” said Hartman, who said he did not think about a possible no-hitter until the fifth.

Savanna Coach Hack Mitchell was grateful for the victory for the Rebels, who have struggled so far this season.

“We’ve been horrible, but it’s like we’ve been snakebit,” Mitchell said. “We usually have one bad inning, and have self-destructed defensively.”

Mitchell said it was the first Rebel no-hitter since he has been coaching the team, and maybe the first ever.

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In other Orange League games:

Anaheim 10, Western 6--Host Anaheim (2-6, 1-2) had five doubles, including two from Robert Saldivar, at Glover Stadium. Joe Palacio (1-2) pitched the first six innings for the victory.

Magnolia 3, Valencia 2--Josh Reding had seven strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings to pick up the victory for visiting Magnolia (4-1, 3-0). Brian Martinez entered with tying run on third and the winning run on second and no one out. He got two ground balls and a line out for the save.