After Another Win, Vigilantes Take Aim

Even though the Vigilantes won’t win the North Division’s first-half pennant, they have a worthy goal before the second half begins.

Mission Viejo can still catch Sonoma County for second place. And, after an 8-3 victory over the Pacific Suns before an announced crowd of 3,028 at Saddleback College, the third-place Vigilantes (17-19) trail the Crushers by 3 1/2 games with nine to play.

After two more games with Pacific in Oxnard, Mission Viejo goes to Sonoma County for four games that should determine how they finish.

“Right now we’re getting ready for the second half,” Vigilante Manager Buck Rodgers said. “But we hope to catch Sonoma, and take some momentum into the second half.”

But the Vigilantes don’t want to think about the Crushers even after beating the Suns (11-24) for the second straight night.

“If we don’t win at least one of the next two games,” designated hitter Tim McDonnell said, “it won’t matter when we play Sonoma.”

Mission Viejo right-hander Kent Ervin (3-2) wasn’t as sharp as Mike Smith was on Tuesday, giving up nine hits and three runs in seven innings.

But he was effective enough, striking out four and walking none before turning the game over to the bullpen. Brett Grebe and Josh Belovsky gave up one hit between them.

The Vigilantes had another strong performance on offense, this time at the expense of Suns starter Ken Krahenbuhl (2-4), who gave up seven runs and 12 hits--including three homers and three doubles--in 6 1/3 innings. Mission Viejo had 16 hits in the game.

Mission Viejo jumped ahead 3-0 with two outs in the third.

Brad Gennaro doubled down the right-field line, and Phil Kernan hit a home run to center, his seventh of the season. Alan Burke doubled to left, and a flustered Krahenbuhl committed two balks, scoring Burke.

Mission Viejo kept the offense going in the fourth. With one out, Tracy Edmondson slapped a single to center and stole second. With two out, Brian Grebeck scorched a two-hopper past shortstop Hess Olives to score Edmondson.

The Suns broke through for a run in the fifth. Ryan Seidel, a former Southern California College player, led off with a double to right, moved to third on Briton Scheibe’s single, and scored while Olivares was hitting into a double play.

Notes

The fate of the Grays Harbor Gulls, whose Washington-based ownership ceased operations last week, was decided Wednesday during an owners’ meeting at the Western Baseball League offices in Portland, Ore. Mission Viejo General Manager Paula Pyers, who attended the meeting, said the team will be supported by the league, change its name to the Western Warriors and play all its second half games on the road. When the Warriors play the Vigilantes here on Aug. 1-3, the Warriors will be the home team and bat last.