This Team Could Be Lionized in Playoffs

Westminster has won nine games in a row, but you might not have heard about it.

The Lions have clinched their second consecutive Golden West League title, but you might not have read about it.

For the season, they have won 90% of their games, more than any other team in Orange County, but you probably had no idea.

Westminster, which emphasizes defense, pitching and manufacturing runs, is about as glamorous as a minor-league contract.

The Lions play in one of the county’s weaker leagues and get little recognition before the playoffs. Coverage is usually limited to box scores.

But this year’s team might be poised to move into the spotlight. Westminster (18-2, 10-1), whose enrollment moved it into the Southern Section Division I playoffs this season, possess the ability to put together a memorable postseason run.

They are hitting .358 as a team, have committed only 1.6 errors per game and feature one of the county’s best players in shortstop/pitcher Freddie Rodriguez.

The senior right-hander is 8-1 with two saves and a 1.32 earned-run average. He has given up eight walks in 53 innings. And he’s hitting .530 with 19 RBIs and 19 stolen bases from his leadoff spot.

“He’s like having a coach in the field,” Westminster Coach Bill Whiteley said. “He has composure. He’s not going to lose his cool in a 3-2 count.”

The Lions have been known for maintaining their composure under pressure. They rebounded from a loss to Long Beach Poly in the first game of a doubleheader to win the second game and avenged a loss to Tustin by defeating the Tillers the second time the teams played.

The league rivals play a rubber game Thursday at Westminster, but the Lions have already wrapped up the league title.

“Right now, we’re playing pretty good baseball,” Rodriguez said. “I’m pretty confident in how we’re playing. We’re not a team that is going to go out there and win a game by hitting home runs. We have to steal bases, move over runners on balls in the dirt.”

Part of the reason the Lions have to manufacture runs is because they play in a gargantuan ballpark. It’s 450 feet from home plate to the center field wall, and 350 feet down the lines. Westminster fans know not to expect a lot of home runs.

What they do expect is a big-hearted effort from everyone, even the last guy on the bench. Whitely employs an everyone-plays approach, guaranteeing his 16 players that they will start at least five games each.

“That’s what builds the loyalty and team chemistry,” he said.

It also results in standout performances from underclassmen such as sophomore pitchers Danny Valadez (5-0, 2.20 ERA) and Brett Douglas (5-1, 3.34). Three sophomores and a freshman are regular starters.

Right fielder Tony Flores is also having a fine season, hitting .446. The senior hit two doubles, collected two RBIs and scored three runs in Wednesday’s 17-9 victory over Ocean View that clinched the league title.

The coach of the team that draws Westminster in the first round of the playoffs next week might be tempted to ask “Who?” when he first sees the bracket. But there’s little doubt the Lions will leave an indelible impression on him, win or lose.

Said Rodriguez: “We have the people to get the job done. We play as a team.”

DOING IT ALL

Liberty Christian senior Aaron Mendoza had a huge day against Walnut Southlands Christian Thursday, hitting for the cycle and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings to pick up a key victory for the Minutemen.

Mendoza hit a two-run triple in the third, a two-run home run in the fifth and finished with five RBIs for Liberty Christian, which has won six consecutive games after starting the season 1-7.

Nick Harbert, Corey Pickering and Mike Spagnola--all hitting at least .462 with 20 or more stolen bases--are key contributors to a resurgence that has moved the Minutemen (7-7, 5-3) from last place to third in the Express League, assuring themselves of their first playoff spot since 1992.

LOOKING AHEAD

Titles are on the line this week in every league except the Freeway (which Sonora has wrapped up), Golden West (Westminster), Serra (Mater Dei) and Sunset (Esperanza).

The most competitive league is the South Coast, in which three teams are within a game of first-place Trabuco Hills (18-6, 9-4). The Mustangs face defending champion Capistrano Valley (16-8, 8-5), which is coming on strong, today at Capistrano Valley and Thursday at Trabuco Hills.

El Dorado (19-5, 10-3) and Katella (17-7, 10-3), tied atop the Empire League, play today at El Dorado and Thursday at Boysen Park.

Anaheim (14-10, 8-5) is tied with Savanna (9-15, 8-5) for second place in the Orange League, but the Colonists control their own destiny because they play first-place Valencia (15-9, 9-4) at 7 tonight at Glover Park and at 7 Thursday at Valencia.

Laguna Hills (14-10, 10-5) can clinch at least a tie for the Sea View League title today when it hosts Irvine (17-6, 10-4).

Villa Park may need three Century League games this week to wrap up the title. The first-place Spartans (17-6, 10-2) play second-place Foothill (17-7, 10-3) today at Villa Park and Thursday at Foothill.

Villa Park also will play the conclusion of a game against El Modena protested earlier in the season. The game, postponed after Villa Park disputed an obstruction call, will be resumed at El Modena Friday in the Vanguard half of the fifth inning with a runner on second and nobody out.

Correspondent Mike Haubrich contributed to this report.

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BASEBALL TOP 10

Orange County Sportswriters’ Poll

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Pos. School League Rec Pts 1. Esperanza (1) Sunset 21-3 60 2. Mater Dei (2) Serra 21-3 54 3. La Quinta (3) Garden Grove 22-3 45 4. El Dorado (5) Empire 19-5 44 5. Sonora (4) Freeway 20-3-1 37 6. Trabuco Hills (6) South Coast 18-6 22 7. Cypress (9) Empire 17-7 15 8. Irvine (NR) Sea View 17-6 13 9. Villa Park (NR) Century 17-6 9 10. Edison (8) Sunset 16-7-1 8

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Last week’s rankings in parentheses

Others: San Clemente (17-7), Fountain Valley (16-8), Aliso Niguel (17-6), Westminster (18-2).