SOUTHERN SECTION BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS : Fountain Valley Squeezes Out Another Title With 14-7 Victory

Fountain Valley capped an enormously successful baseball postseason for the county, winning the Southern Section Division I title and joining La Quinta as back-to-back champions.

But the 14-7 victory Saturday over La Puente Bishop Amat was closer than it sounds. The final included a six-run seventh by Fountain Valley.

The game was actually won in the fifth.

The Barons had runners on second and third with one out when, on a 3-2 pitch, Dan Keller dropped a squeeze bunt toward third. Lancer pitcher Steve Medrano picked up the ball and threw out Keller as Kevin Burford slid across the plate.

None of the Lancers noticed, however, that Roger Pechuls had not stopped running, and the Barons’ catcher scored all the way from second. This from a player who did not even steal a base this season. But it gave Fountain Valley the lead for good.

The play was even more poignant because the Barons had tried a squeeze bunt earlier in the game and it didn’t work.

“We work on the double squeeze all the time,” Fountain Valley Coach Ron La Ruffa said. “The man on second leaves as soon as the pitcher picks up the ball, and he has to read the play as he rounds third. It’s something we try to have for close games.” But even La Ruffa was amazed Pechuls pulled it off. “He’s our slowest runner,” La Ruffa said.

Pechuls wasn’t through. He singled home another run in the sixth, and added a two-run single in the Barons’ huge seventh. He had four hits, three RBIs and two runs scored “in what easily was the biggest game of my life,” he said.

That Pechuls is playing is a bit of a minor miracle. He underwent shoulder and knee surgery last year, and was told by doctors it would be difficult for him to play this season.

But after having to watch from the bench last year, he was determined to be a part of this game.

“It just killed me to have to watch the title game last season. I knew whatever chance I got I had to step up,” Pechuls said.

“I wish the season could still go on. I really enjoyed playing with these guys.