THE PREPS : BASEBALL / SUNSET LEAGUE : Fountain Valley Completes Sweep of Marina

Fountain Valley took a huge step toward securing a second straight Sunset League title by edging Marina, 3-2, Friday to complete a sweep of the three-game season series.

It didn’t come easily--but nothing does when two of the county’s winningest teams meet.

The top-ranked Barons scratched and clawed for everything they got off Viking starter Justin Lynch, then survived an attack of nerves in the seventh when their relievers forced in both of Marina’s runs on bases-loaded walks.

But winning is a habit Fountain Valley (16-2-1, 8-1) has found hard to break against the Vikings. The Barons’ senior class has never lost to its Sunset League rivals, and third pitcher Craig Ritter made sure it didn’t happen Friday, catching Josh Roberts’ soft popup for the final out with the bases still loaded.

The victory, coupled with Thursday’s decision over Marina (15-4, 6-3), gives Fountain Valley a two-game lead over Marina (and at least a three-game lead on every other league opponent) with six to play. Even if Fountain Valley and Marina wind up tied, the Barons hold the tiebreaker by virtue of their season sweep.

“This was one big job, winning the games this week,” Fountain Valley Coach Ron La Ruffa said. “Now comes the next big job--making sure we don’t let down these next three weeks. This is the time to start peaking.”

Marina Coach Paul Renfrow won’t concede the league to Fountain Valley, but admits the Barons will be tough to catch.

“Everyone in this league can play hard,” Renfrow said. “But Fountain Valley knows what takes to win. I think our kids are realizing that Fountain Valley is not that much better than us; but they have been leery of the Fountain Valley kids--a healthy respect for them. That’s fine, but they also have to realize that sometimes (losing to one team) is just baseball.”

Lynch (7-1) did everything he could to break the Barons’ hold on Marina, giving up just two hits the first four innings. But he was betrayed by his defense in the fifth.

With two out and Matt Fox on first, Matt Roman plopped a double just beyond Mike Tyler’s diving attempt in right. Fox should have stopped at third but decided to try to score anyway; he made it when second baseman Brandon Schneider’s relay throw sailed over catcher Craig Wilson’s head.

“That was the key play,” Renfrow said. “We should have had that guy out by 30 feet and instead (Schneider) rushed the throw.”

Roman, who had two hits and later scored on Ritter’s single to short, said he got lucky. Lynch had been freezing Baron hitters at the plate all day with the curveball, but threw him nothing but inside fastballs, never expecting the Fountain Valley center fielder to get his bat on one.

“This was a big accomplishment today,” Roman said of the victory. “We haven’t won league yet, but we’re in a good place.”

Steve Schenewerk got the victory in relief.