Event Was a Classic Downfall for Some

The National Classic is over, which is the best thing many local teams can say about it.

There were those that embarrassed themselves before the 16-team tournament began and those that simply waited until the first pitch had been thrown before sputtering.

Of the six teams from the region, only Placentia El Dorado got past the second round and prevented the unthinkable -- a local team failing to advance to the National Classic semifinals, which has only happened once since the tournament’s inception in 1990.

Three of the teams that struggled and what ailed them:

* Injuries and illnesses caught up to Westminster La Quinta, which entered as the nation’s No. 1 team but lost twice and will be lucky to be in Baseball America’s top 10 this week.

The Aztecs struck out 15 times in a 10-1 loss to Taylorsville (Utah) and then gave up six runs in the first inning of a 6-4 loss to Las Vegas Centennial.

Granted, the Aztecs (17-2) played without pitcher and outfielder Ian Kennedy, who might sit out the rest of the season because of a fractured kneecap, and shortstop Blake Crosby, who sat out because of a throat infection, but seventh place was not expected.

“To go 2-2, that’s not what we planned when we entered the tournament,” Coach Dave Demarest said. “But we didn’t plan on losing two kids, let alone two high-profile kids. You can’t go in without your No. 1 pitcher and then lose your leading hitter in a tournament this good. I don’t know if we could have done anything else.”

* Villa Park certainly didn’t enjoy itself after bolting from its own tournament to play in the more highly regarded event. First-year Coach Scott Luke was criticized for Villa Park’s 11th-hour withdrawal and then the Spartans went out and got no-hit by Anaheim Esperanza on the second day. The Spartans (12-6) finished 13th.

* La Puente Bishop Amat, the nation’s No. 1 team in some rankings last season, continued to founder and finished 14th. The Lancers (6-8) started this season 3-0, but have lost eight of 11 games and were 1-3 in the National Classic.

The only team that exceeded expectations was El Dorado, which defeated the No. 2 team in the nation, San Diego Mission Bay, and advanced to the tournament championship Thursday.

But El Dorado (15-3) couldn’t beat recent history and lost to Taylorsville, 8-4, the fourth time since 1990 that the Golden Hawks have lost in the tournament final. El Dorado committed three errors, gave up 13 hits and lost a 4-2 lead.

El Dorado shortstop Jeff Flaig made an impression, going 10 for 13 with three home runs and knocking in eight runs in four games. One of the home runs, against Mission Bay, traveled an estimated 410 feet, Coach Steve Gullotti said.

“He made a lot of people believers in this tournament,” Gullotti said. “There were a lot of people from across the nation there to see him. He made himself a lot of money on that swing.”

*

Bret Saberhagen and Mark Gubicza, teammates for eight seasons on the Kansas City Royals, were in opposite dugouts Thursday, 1,600 miles from the city where they won a World Series.

Gubicza, the first-year coach at West Hills Chaminade, and Saberhagen, the pitching coach at Calabasas, were staples in the Royals’ rotation when Kansas City won the 1985 World Series.

Saberhagen won the Cy Young Award twice and was 167-117 with a 3.34 earned-run average in 16 years as a pro; Gubicza was 132-136 with a 3.96 ERA in 14 years.

Thursday, Saberhagen’s team had the better numbers.

Saberhagen’s son, Drew, a junior first baseman and pitcher for Calabasas, had a two-run home run, a run-scoring double and pitched two scoreless innings in relief in Calabasas’ 8-3 victory.

“It was almost like playing against my son because I’ve known him since he was born,” Gubicza said. “We wanted to win and at the same time I wanted him to do well. It was fun, though.”

*

Sizing up the Sunset League was supposed to be simple.

Huntington Beach Marina would win it, Esperanza and Los Alamitos would contend for second place, defending champion Fountain Valley had some pop and Huntington Beach had a couple of decent pitchers that could cause problems.

As for Huntington Beach Edison? Not a chance. Especially after last season, when the Chargers were highly regarded in the preseason but stumbled to a 15-11 record, 8-7 in league play.

So much for predictions.

Edison (16-3, 6-1) is in first place in the Sunset League and has been solid everywhere else, going 5-0 at the Las Vegas Durango tournament.

Offense and David Huff have been the keys for Edison, which batted .420 as a team in Las Vegas and again rode the arm of the UC Irvine-bound left-hander, who is 6-1 with two saves and a 0.70 ERA.

Coach Matt Mosiello believed the Chargers would be in good shape with 12 seniors. He said he was more relieved than worried when the Chargers were ignored in the preseason rankings.

“We kind of liked not being ranked,” Mosiello said. “Last year we were ranked too high and there was too much pressure.

“In the winter league, we played [Westminster] La Quinta three or four times and we were right there with them. We knew going in we had a chance to be pretty good. We kept a low profile.”

*

Mission Viejo Capistrano Valley is ranked No. 1 by The Times because of Stanford-bound shortstop Adam Sorgi, a superb pitching staff and, well, a little luck.

The Cougars (17-1) have five one-run victories, including a 4-3 decision over Riverside Poly last week that lasted 11 innings.

Other one-run victories came against Orange Lutheran, Dana Point Dana Hills and Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills twice.

“Last year we lost the one-runners,” Coach Bob Zamora said. “That’s the difference between this year’s and last year’s teams. We started six juniors last year and they’re all seniors this year. They didn’t like the pit in their stomach when they lost those one-runners.”

*

Andy Beal of Peninsula will not pitch for several weeks because of tendinitis in his right arm. Beal will continue to hit.... Crescenta Valley sophomore Trevor Bell skipped a start against Arcadia because of slight soreness in his right shoulder. He is expected to pitch this week.... Junior second baseman Willie Cabrera, one of Chatsworth’s top hitters, is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament.