Janssen Gives Barons Unlikely Boost

Fountain Valley Coach Ron LaRuffa knew he would get strong pitching from his Barons this season. He just didn’t expect it to come from third baseman Casey Janssen.

Janssen, employed as a substitute starting pitcher Friday in an attempt to boost a struggling rotation, did not allow a hit through five innings, hit a grand slam and added an RBI double as No. 2 Fountain Valley defeated No. 9 Los Alamitos, 9-3, in a Sunset League game at Los Alamitos.

The senior right-hander struck out eight, issued no walks and gave up one unearned run that was set up by a three-base error. He last pitched as a freshman.

“That was our best-pitched ballgame of the year today,” LaRuffa said. “Janssen really stepped up.”

Said Griffin Coach Rob Wigod: “Janssen is a great player. I don’t want to see him out there as a pitcher or a third baseman.”

Or at the plate, where the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Janssen blasted a fastball for his fourth home run of the season to put the Barons (8-2, 2-1) ahead, 4-0, in the first inning. His double in the fifth gave him his Orange County-leading 25th RBI. The school record is 43.

Janssen also scored Fountain Valley’s final run after drawing a walk in the seventh.

The Barons are now tied with Esperanza (8-1, 2-1) for second place in league behind Marina (5-3, 2-0), which plays at last-place Huntington Beach at noon today.

“You can’t pick a favorite in this league,” LaRuffa said. “It usually comes down to the last game.”

LaRuffa said he pulled Janssen only because he didn’t want to push him. Also, LaRuffa wanted to get relievers Mike Koehler and Josh Bartusick some work. Each gave up a run to Los Alamitos (5-5, 1-2).

Although Griffin starter Bryan Desena (2-1) allowed six runs in two-thirds of an inning, Chris Kluwe pitched 5 1/3 strong innings of relief.

Los Alamitos scored its only run off Janssen in the first inning after Nick Fitzgerald’s fly ball fell out of Bartusick’s glove in right field. Fitzgerald went to third base on the play and scored on Ron Prettyman’s ground out to second.

Janssen, who struck out the side in the third and the first two batters he faced in the fifth, said he would be willing to take the mound again if called upon.

After Friday, that’s a safe bet.

In another Sunset League game:

No. 4 Esperanza 4, Edison 3--Scott Hendrickson had two hits, including a two-run home run in the first inning, and Doug Brown went six innings, giving up two runs, to get the win for the host Aztecs (8-1, 2-1).