THE PREPS : BASEBALL / FREEWAY LEAGUE : Sonora Holds Tight to Victory

This time, Sonora was left with more than regrets.

After having consecutive games slip through their fingers, the Raiders held on tight in a 6-5 victory over Sunny Hills on Friday at Sonora. The Raiders again wavered but managed to secure their biggest victory yet.

When Junior Rodriguez finally got the final out, Sonora (9-1-1, 3-1-1) had moved within in a half game of the Lancers (9-3, 4-1) in the Freeway League standings.

“This one was nice, especially the way we let the last two get away,” co-Coach Pat Tellers said.

The Raiders almost let a third lead get away. They got to Lancer pitchers for five runs in the fourth to take a 6-1 lead, then sweated it out.

Greg Garand’s three-run double in the fifth cut the lead to two and started the Raiders to thinking. They had blown a 5-3 lead against Fullerton two days earlier, losing, 7-5. A week ago, Sonora led, 10-5, only to have Troy score five in the bottom of the seventh for a tie.

Those big-gulp feelings were back.

“We haven’t had a whole lot of fun the last couple games,” Rodriguez said. “It was time to start having some again.”

Rodriguez’s idea of fun is a little off-center. He had to pitch out of a two-out jam in the sixth, then had to get the final out twice in the seventh.

With two outs and a runner on second, Garand hit a popup to first baseman Tony Governale, but the ball bounced off his glove. Josh Hochgesang scored and the Raider lead was 6-5.

Rodriguez (4-0) went right back to work, getting Jeff Templeton on an easy grounder.

It was the first time Rodriguez had thrown in a week. He had been out with a sore arm, but returned strong, striking out five.

The only hitter who gave him problems was Garand, who drove in four Lancer runs. His single in the first gave Sunny Hills a 1-0 lead.

Rodriguez tied the score with a home run in the bottom of the inning.

The Raiders knocked out Sunny Hills starter Ryan Puckett (2-1) in the fourth. Chris Anderson had an run-scoring double and Rodriguez a sacrifice fly, but the Raiders also scored runs on a passed ball and wild pitch.

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In other league games:

Fullerton 14, Troy 1--Tyler Brickell hit a grand slam in the second inning, a two-run shot in the fourth and finished four for four with seven RBIs for Fullerton (5-5, 3-2). Mario Ramirez added a home run for the Indians, who pounded out 17 hits.

Buena Park 6, La Habra 5 (8)--Danny Baca stole home in the bottom of the eighth for Buena Park (4-3-1, 2-2-1). Baca also scored the tying run in the seventh when Tim Walsh was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.