Canyon Cleans Up in Backyard

There is nothing better than a league game to keep your mind off an upcoming national tournament.

Top-ranked Canyon could be excused if it had been looking ahead to Monday’s opener of the National Classic Tournament. But the Comanches did not take Friday off, battering Orange, 11-2, at Canyon.

“They’ve been waiting a year for [the tournament],” Canyon Coach Mike Najera said. “But you don’t get into the [section] playoffs by winning tournaments. You do it by doing well in league.”

Canyon (9-1, 3-0) had 16 hits off Panther starter Brett Sewell (1-2), who pitched the entire game for Orange (3-6, 1-2). Right fielder Mike Tomarelli led the assault with five hits in five at-bats, including two homers, scoring four runs and driving in three.

Also enjoying a big day was first baseman Brandon Smith, who had three hits, including a homer and a double, and scored three times.

The outburst made it easy for starter Jeff Leuenberger, who gave up six hits and struck out seven.

“Actually I haven’t been hitting that well,” said Tomarelli, who also had a five-hit game March 13 against Los Alamitos. “Today, after that first hit, I knew I was in for a good day.”

Tomarelli said the Comanches feel confident going into the tournament.

“We’re playing well right now,” he said. “Our hitting has always been good, but now our pitching is catching up and we’re playing good defense.”

Orange Coach Ed Howard agreed, especially after seeing Canyon take a hit away from designated hitter Martin Silva with a rare 9-1 putout.

“You knew going into the year they had a great team,” Howard said. “But this year they are playing some of the best defense I’ve seen them play.”

Sewell dug a hole for himself in the first when he threw away a sacrifice bunt and Canyon exploited the error for four unearned runs.

Orange got two back in the second--one run scored on a catcher’s interference play with the bases loaded--but the Comanches added three more, the first coming on Tomarelli’s first homer of the day.

In the third, Tomarelli and Smith each hit home runs to boost the Comanche lead to 9-2.

In another Century League game:

Foothill 5, El Modena 1--Cling Blevins gave up eight hits in a complete-game victory for Foothill (5-2, 3-0).

In the Empire League:

El Dorado 10, Century 1--Jordan DeJong (2-1), J.P. Frid and Jerry Miller combined on a one-hitter for third-ranked El Dorado (10-1, 2-1). Ryan Ralph was three for four with four RBIs for the Golden Hawks. Johnny Mendez had a triple for Century (3-5, 1-2).

In the Freeway League:

Fullerton 14, Buena Park 3--Brandon Rosenthal went five for five with five RBIs and Josh Leach hit a two-run home run in the third for visiting Fullerton (5-5, 2-1).

Sonora 7, La Habra 3--Ryan Vorell had three hits and two RBIs for visiting Sonora (8-1), ranked seventh in the county.

Troy 8, Sunny Hills 3--Kevin Waldinger hit a three-run home run in the first and pitched a complete game to earn the victory for host Troy (2-8, 1-2). Waldinger gave up two earned runs and seven hits, struck out seven and walked seven.

In Golden West League:

Westminster 13, Santa Ana 1--Shaun Spradling had three hits, including a home run, and six RBIs for visiting Westminster (3-0 in league).

Tustin 13, Ocean View 1 (6, darkness)--Chad Chop (2-2) pitched a three-hitter and struck out seven for Tustin (5-3, 1-2). Ryan France was two for four with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored for the Tillers.

In the Orange League:

Valencia 10, Brea Olinda 1--David Towery was two for four with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored for Valencia (8-4, 1-1). Scott Davis (1-2) pitched 4 2/3 innings, struck out nine and gave up no earned runs for Brea (3-5, 1-1).

In a nonleague game:

La Quinta 7, Edison 3--Josue Pena had three hits and two RBIs for host La Quinta (9-3). Tony Cappuccilli hit two home runs for Edison (3-5).