SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL / DIVISION I : Barons Get the Chance to Rally

There was never any panic in Fountain Valley’s Dan Keller. Just patience.

Keller and the Barons bided their time, shrugging off one wasted opportunity after another. But they didn’t squander their last chance Friday.

Fountain Valley scored two in the bottom of the sixth for a 3-2 victory over Capistrano Valley in the Southern Section Division Iquarterfinals at Fountain Valley.

The Barons might have pressed their luck, but they didn’t fold and will play Fontana in Tuesday’s semifinals at Blair Field in Long Beach.

A victory Tuesday would give the Barons a chance at a second section title. No Orange County team has ever won consecutive championships.

“I don’t know what to say,” Fountain Valley Coach Ron La Ruffa said. “I don’t know how we did it today.”

Confidence, apparently.

“We’ll always find as way to score runs,” said Keller (7-0), who pitched a four-hitter. “Pitching and defense will take it from there.”

The pitching and defense had to hold out a long time.

Keller gave up two runs in the first, then retired 13 consecutive batters. The Barons (24-3-1) did not make an error; they only capitalized on them.

Capistrano Valley (17-11) led, 2-1, after five innings but finally gave the Barons one too many chances.

Cougar pitcher Rik Currier (8-3) gave up two hits, but he walked five batters and hit three others. Still, he stranded six of seven runners through five innings.

Currier hit Keller to start the sixth. Shortstop Paul Day then booted a grounder, the Cougars’ third error.

Two outs later, Matt Roman grounded a single into left to tie the score. Roger Perchuls then scored the go-ahead run on a passed ball by Matt Pope.

Keller struck out the side in the seventh to close out the victory.

Fountain Valley stranded runners in each inning. The Barons had a runner reach at least second bases in four innings.

They had the bases loaded with one out in the third when Chris Ponchak missed a squeeze sign and struck out, leaving Matt Fox caught between third and home. An error by third baseman Dan Davis enabled Fox to score.

“We were chasing high fastballs all day,” La Ruffa said. “We never gave [Currier] the chance to hurt himself.”

Currier was given the lead in the first. John Di Corpo lined a two-out double just fair to score Day and Adam Petke.

“I was a little worried after I gave up those two,” Keller said. “But I knew we’d get them back. I had faith.”

In another Division I quarterfinal:

La Puente Bishop Amat 3, Katella 2--Bishop Amat scored the go-ahead run with two outs in the seventh inning at Boysen Park. Jason Stockstill (10-3) was the loser, going seven innings and giving up four hits, four walks and striking out five for Katella (20-10).