El Dorado Works Late, Tops Katella

El Dorado is not a team that discourages easily.

The Golden Hawks fought off the rain and a two-run deficit to defeat Katella, 6-4, in eight innings Tuesday at Boysen Park.

E.J. Ocha, who had three hits for El Dorado, broke a 4-4 tie with a run-scoring single off reliever Scott Fraser (2-2) in the eighth.

The liner to left scored Drew McMillan, who led off with a double off center fielder Carlos Pasillas’ glove and advanced to third on Pasillas’ throwing error.

Ocha stole second, then scored on Dan Franklin’s hit to left.

El Dorado scored twice in the seventh to tie the score after Katella had scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 4-2 lead.

“Our kids really battled,” El Dorado Coach Steve Gullotti said. “Even in the games we’ve lost, they didn’t give up. We have enough offense that, as long as we’re within two to three runs, we feel we have a chance.”

The Golden Eagles improved to 7-4, 3-1 in league and are tied with Katella (6-5, 3-1) atop the Empire League standings.

“Even though it’s early, it would have been tough to go two games behind them and keep fighting for the league title,” Gullotti said.

Katella Coach Tim McMenamin, who said the game “was probably bigger” for the Golden Hawks than his Knights, was not surprised by El Dorado’s rally.

The Golden Hawks had 13 hits, including three doubles and a triple.

“No lead is safe against them because they hit so well,” McMenamin said. “We knew they had the ability to come back, and they did the things they had to do to win.”

El Dorado’s Bryson Jones (1-0) pitched three innings for the victory.

In other Empire League games:

Cypress 5, Century 1--Sophomore Travis Ingle, making his fifth varsity start, pitched a no-hitter, striking out nine to lead visiting Cypress (7-4, 2-2). Century squeezed home its only run in the bottom of the sixth. Ingle (1-1) pitched a two-hitter earlier this season against Canyon but lost the game on a two-run home run.

Loara 6, Kennedy 0 (5, rain)--Eddie Joosten (3-1) pitched a three-hitter for Loara (6-4, 3-1). Teammate Ivan Escalera had three hits.

In the Express League:

Heritage Christian 11, Harbor City Gateway Christian 0 (5, mercy)--Chris Myrtle pitched a three-hitter and struck out seven for Heritage Christian (5-1, 1-0). Justin Kean was two for three with three runs batted in and Paul Caffrey had two hits and four RBIs.

In the Century League:

El Modena 8, Villa Park 5--Tony Calderon had three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs for El Modena (5-5, 2-2). Nick Rupp had three hits and an RBI for the Spartans (3-6, 1-2).

Santa Ana Valley 4, Orange 2--Rolando Ramirez had three hits and pitched a complete game, striking out five for Santa Ana Valley (5-6, 1-3). Orange is 3-8, 1-3.

In the Olympic League:

Orange Lutheran 5, Whittier Christian 0--Jon Maddock pitched a two-hitter, struck out 12 and added an inside-the-park home run to lead host Orange Lutheran (5-5, 2-2).

In the Orange League:

Anaheim 4, Magnolia 3--Armondo Arriola had two hits and an RBI for Anaheim (4-5, 1-1). Magnolia is 4-2, 1-2.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Aliso Niguel 8, University 6--Jay Sievers hit a grand slam and doubled home a run to give him five RBIs for host Aliso Niguel (8-3, 4-0). University is 6-5, 2-2.

Laguna Beach 12, Estancia 2 (6 innings, time limitations)--Aaron Skinner had three hits and stole two bases and Beau Musacco had three hits and three RBIs for visiting Laguna Beach (5-4, 1-3). Jimmy McKibban pitched a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts for Laguna Beach. Estancia is 0-8, 0-4.