Atkins Keeps Trojans’ Hopes Up

There is little doubt how valuable Garrett Atkins’ hitting is to University. The Trojan senior is averaging .534 and is the county home run leader with 10.

But on Friday Atkins showed off his arm, much to the chagrin of Laguna Hills.

In a game University desperately needed to win for any hope of capturing the Pacific Coast League title, Atkins took the mound and shut out the defending league champions, 1-0, at Laguna Hills.

After being shelled by the Hawks, 15-2, on Tuesday, another loss would have been deadly to the Trojans (13-7, 5-3), who are in third place but haven’t yet shaken Costa Mesa for the final automatic playoff slot with five games remaining.

But Atkins (5-2) struck out seven and walked only one in seven innings. His 88 mph fastball and variety of changeups limited Laguna Hills (10-8-1, 6-1-1) to six singles.

The loss dropped Laguna Hills to second in league, a half game behind Aliso Niguel.

“Definitely one of my best games,” Atkinson said. “I had a no-hitter through six innings against Orem, Utah, in the Big West Tournament but this was more important. I hope this keeps us on track in league.”

University Coach Chris Conlin said he is only thinking of making the playoffs at the moment, and Friday’s victory was a step in that direction. Conlin was also glad he went with his instinct to have Atkins pitch.

“After they cleaned our clocks on Tuesday [he and staff] wondered who we would use,” Conlin said. “Laguna Hills is a good team with very good athletes, so I felt we better put our best athlete out there on the mound.”

Hawks starter Jeremy Miller (3-1) was equally excellent, giving up only four hits--walked one and had no strikeouts--and tossed an economical 70 pitches in seven innings.

Miller retired the first nine Trojan hitters he faced, but weakened momentarily in the third. It proved to be his undoing.

Atkins broke up the no-hit bid with a single to right, and was almost caught taking too big a turn around first base, barely beating outfielder Danny Lee’s throw to first. Atkins then moved to second on a sacrifice, to third on an infield out, and scored the only run he would need on Eli Stokols’ RBI single.

The closest Laguna Hills came to scoring was in the sixth. Corey Pardoe led off with a single to center and stole second. With one out, Pardoe reached third on an error, but got no farther, as Atkins retired the next two batters.

In other Pacific Coast League games:

Aliso Niguel 6, Laguna Beach 5 (8)--Sean Stutzman’s lead-off home run in the bottom of the eighth won the game for Aliso Niguel (13-6, 8-1). Laguna Beach (2-7 in league) had scored three runs in the seventh to tie the score.

Estancia 4, Costa Mesa 3--Juan Romo had an RBI double and scored on an error in a three-run sixth inning for Estancia (3-14-1, 1-7-1). Mario Romo had two hits, a run scored and two stolen bases and Steve Wilson (2-4) pitched five innings, giving up one earned run on two hits, two strikeouts and two walks for the Eagles. Jeremy Gordon had an RBI double for Costa Mesa (2-7 in league).