Esperanza Beats Fountain Valley

Top-ranked Esperanza took sole possession of first place in the Sunset League baseball race by defeating Fountain Valley, 9-4, Friday at Esperanza High.

Pitcher A.J. Shappi (6-0) got the win, giving up four runs on seven hits and striking out seven in six innings, and the Aztecs got run-scoring hits from five players in avenging a 1-0 loss to the Barons on Wednesday.

“This is a group that doesn’t need a lot of extra incentive,” said Aztec Coach Mike Curran. “But they were embarrassed by not scoring against these guys on Wednesday and they just wanted to come out and hit the ball hard.”

Esperanza (12-2, 6-1) collected 12 hits and put the game away with a five-run second inning after each team scored a run in the first. In the second, Brian Browning and Greg Farrell drove in runs with doubles, Robby Gingg had a run-scoring single, Robert Nesbitt hit a sacrifice fly and Farrell scored on an error.

The Aztecs scored twice more in the fourth when Rick Taloa singled in a run and later scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-1.

Fountain Valley (8-6, 4-3) got to Shappi for three home runs in the sixth inning. With one out Josh Bartusick and Gilbert Gonzales hit back-to-back home runs and one out later Marty Burden hit one.

“They’re the best team in the league,” said Baron Coach Ron LaRuffa. “The difference between us and them is they’re a mature team and we’re not.”