Edison controls own destiny

The Edison High baseball team continues its quest to try to win back-to-back Sunset League titles for the first time in program history.

The Chargers took a big step toward that goal by winning at Esperanza last Friday, 12-9, in a battle for outright first place in league.

Edison came into this week’s series against Fountain Valley in first place at 9-2 in league. Esperanza is in second at 8-3.

“If we play our game, we’ll let everything else speak for itself,” Edison Coach Steve Lambright said. “Personally, I think my team is playing a little better.”

Edison jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the second inning at Esperanza, and led 12-3 before the hosts scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to make it interesting.

Nic Hanson got the win for the Chargers and Tanner Phillips the save.

“We had a wild one,” Lambright said. “I told the guys, they’re not going to quit. We had to hold on for dear life.”

The third-place Barons (6-5 in league) came into this week’s series playing great baseball as well. They’ve won their last five league games and six out of seven, including a sweep of Marina last week by scores of 2-1 and 6-3.

In the first game, sophomore Zack Milan won his third straight league game by limiting the Vikings to four hits. Senior Adam Scott hit a solo home run and senior catcher Eddie Alvarez doubled in the winning run.

Alvarez and senior shortstop A.J. Cardenalli each hit three-run homers in the second game as senior Cody Morad got the win.

OCEAN VIEW

The Seahawks have a key Golden West League series with Orange High this week. Ocean View had won six straight league titles before Orange captured the crown last year. Coming into this week’s series, Ocean View (10-1 in league) was ahead of Orange (9-2) by a game.

The Seahawks swept Santa Ana this year, winning last week’s games 19-4 and 13-4. Blake Walker was two for four with a grand slam and was the winning pitcher April 28, going four innings and striking out seven. Kevin Nance was four for five with three RBIs.

In Friday’s win, Colton Johnson picked up his team-leading sixth win of the year, going five innings and allowing no runs while striking out one. Timmy Robinson led the offense, going three for five with a double and a home run, his sixth of the year. Nick Schulenburg was two for three with two doubles, and Aaron Delgado went four for five with a double.

“It was nice to go into their place and swing the bats,” Ocean View Coach Shane Borowski said. “We were facing their ace Ruben Saenz, who was coming off a win over Westminster. It was important for us to come out swinging the bats like we did, and not allow them to get into a comfort zone. We attacked all game, and it paid off with an important league win.”

HUNTINGTON BEACH

The Oilers split with El Toro last week, winning 6-4 on April 28, but falling, 8-2, on Friday. David Vandoornum got the win April 28 and Eric Ostrowski earned the save.

Huntington Beach fell behind 7-0 by the third inning Friday, however, and never challenged after that.

The Oilers have a key series this week with Woodbridge, which entered this week tied for third along with Huntington Beach.

“We have put ourselves in a good position to make the postseason,” Huntington Beach Coach Benji Medure said. “Regardless, we are just trying to get better and the rest will take care of itself.

“We still haven’t played our best game.”