BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Keller’s Gem Beats Marina

Daniel Keller continues to make up for lost time.

Three weeks of inactivity because of a broken foot doesn’t seem to have affected Keller, who pitched a one-hitter Thursday in Fountain Valley’s 2-1 victory over Marina. In fact, it seems to have made him more focused.

“The hardest thing I ever had to do was sit and watch for those three weeks,” said Keller, who broke his foot during basketball season. “But I’m back now and feeling no pain.”

Nor should he. His victory at Marina left the Barons (15-2-1, 7-1) alone atop the Sunset League, at least for a day. Fountain Valley, Orange County’s top-ranked team, plays No. 3 Marina (15-3, 6-2) again today at Fountain Valley.

That the Barons are in first was a matter of inches. The score was 1-1 in the seventh and Fountain Valley had the bases loaded with one out. Matt Roman hit a grounder to second but beat the throw to first to avoid the double play.

It wasn’t much, but it was enough for Keller (3-0).

This was his third start since returning from the injury and he has been effective each time. He pitched a one-hitter to beat Esperanza and gave up only two hits in seven innings in a no-decision against Huntington Beach.

Keller needed only 75 pitches Thursday, 50 of which were strikes. He gave up only a fifth-inning single by Mike Tyler.

The Vikings’ only run came in the first. David Titov walked, then advanced to second on a balk. Brandon Schneider bunted back to Keller, who tried to get Titov at third but threw late.

Craig Wilson’s sacrifice fly gave Marina a 1-0 lead.

“I walked the leadoff guy, then made a bad decision on the bunt,” Keller said. “It was my fault. That made me mad.”

He took it out on Marina, striking out five consecutive batters in the second and third innings. Keller finished with six strikeouts.

The Barons needed every bit of Keller’s performance.

Marina’s Eric Turner didn’t give up a hit through four innings. Fountain Valley finally got to him in the fifth, but it took an error to get it started.

Shortstop Josh Roberts booted Chris Ponchak’s ground ball to start the inning. Ponchak then stole second. With two outs, Matt Fox singled to drive in Ponchak.

In another Sunset League game:

Edison 11, Los Alamitos 4--Pat Hayes’ two-run double in the fourth pulled Los Alamitos (7-11, 2-6) to within a run, 5-4, but Edison scored six in the seventh.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Costa Mesa 4, University 3--Trailing 3-1 in the seventh, Costa Mesa (8-8, 4-3) tied the score and Jeremy Starns scored the game-winner when Josh Cant walked with the bases loaded.