El Dorado Holds Off Loara, 5-3
El Dorado survived two rallies to defeat Loara, 5-3, in an Empire League baseball game Wednesday at Glover Field in Anaheim. The victory put No. 4-ranked El Dorado into sole possession of first place in the league.
With a runner at third, one out and El Dorado leading 4-3, Jeff Flaig (7-0) got Loara’s David Ortiz to pop out. Izzy Silva grounded out to first baseman Bryan Jackson, who bobbled the ball but threw to Flaig covering first to end the inning.
El Dorado Coach Matt Stine said although he knew Flaig was out of gas after the fourth, he wanted one more inning from him.
“Flaig’s a competitor, like all our guys,” Stine said.
El Dorado (11-3, 6-2) added an insurance run in the sixth, then called on Nick McMillan to relieve Flaig. McMillan loaded the bases with one out, but fielded Billy Chavez’s grounder to start a double play and end Loara’s rally. McMillan pitched a scoreless seventh for his first save. Loara fell to 7-10, 5-3.
Joe Turgeon led El Dorado with three hits, including a double and a triple, and two RBIs.
In the Sea View League:
Aliso Niguel 7, No. 7 Irvine 6 (10)--Pinch-runner Brandon Chadwick scored on a bases-loaded, two-out error in the bottom of the 10th to give Aliso Niguel (11-3, 7-2) the victory and sole possession of first place.
The Wolverines’ Chris Fielder hit a two-out, two-run home run in the sixth to tie the game at 6-6.
In the Sunset League:
Huntington Beach 6, Edison 3--Huntington Beach’s Justin Keadle (4-2) pitched no-hit ball for 5 1/3 innings and Lee Csenar went the final 2 2/3 to pick up his second save for the Oilers (8-7, 2-6).
Edison is 8-6-1, 5-3.
In the Arcadia tournament:
Palos Verdes Peninsula 6, No. 6 Sonora 6 (7, time limit)--Jacob Mendrin had three hits and drove in the tying run in the bottom of the sixth for Sonora (15-1-1) in pool play. Peninsula advanced to the title game based on more total bases.
In the Pomona/Ontario Elks tournament:
La Quinta 8, Colton 1--Brian Kelley hit a two-run double and had a bases-loaded walk for La Quinta (17-1), which moves into the championship game today against San Bernardino or Ontario.
In the San Diego Lions tournament:
Canyon 7, Green Valley (Nev.) 4 (9 innings)--Matt Lewis’ first home run of the year, a grand slam, gave Canyon (12-5) a 4-1 lead in the sixth. Green Valley (12-3), the top-ranked team in Nevada, rallied for three runs in the seventh to force extra innings. Anthony Duarte’s squeeze bunt brought home the go-ahead run in the ninth for the Comanches.
In the Villa Park tournament:
Newhall Hart 7, Villa Park 4--UCLA-bound Bill Susdorf picked up his fourth save in three days and was selected the tournament MVP in helping Newhall Hart (18-0) defeat Villa Park (11-6) in the title game.