Locals edge Waves, 3-2

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — With runners in scoring position, Matt Telesco proved adept at bringing them home.

The Glendale Angelenos second baseman didn’t try to hit home runs either time he came to the plate with runners in scoring position. Instead, he smartly put the ball in play, producing some good results.

Telesco collected two hits, a sacrifice fly and drove in two runs Friday night to lead Glendale to a 3-2 nonleague home victory against the Orange County Waves at Stengel Field.

Glendale, a first-year program in the California Collegiate League, improved to 6-7. Orange County, a member of the Orange County Collegiate League, dropped to 7-3 while fielding only 11 players. About 20 players on the Tides weren’t present because many of them attended their junior college graduations.

Telesco had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the second inning before giving the Angelenos the lead for good with a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

“I went up there looking for some pitches I could handle,” Telesco said. “I just wanted to put the ball in play and see what could happen.”

Crescenta Valley High graduate Chad Nacapoy hit a solo home run to left on an 0-2 pitch from David Borasik in the second to give Glendale a 1-0 lead.

“I was looking for an off-speed pitch and I saw the ball real good,” said Nacapoy, who attends Cal State Los Angeles after transferring from Brigham Young University. “I got all of it.”

Then Telesco took care of the rest for Glendale.

After Nacapoy’s home run, Hoover High graduate and Glendale Community College player Sako Chapjian singled. Chapjian moved to second on a balk and then stole third.

Telesco then bounced a double just inside third base to bring home Chapjian to make it 2-0.

“I was lucky that it just squeaked in,” Telesco said. “When it went off the bat, I thought it was foul, but I had my head down and just kept running.”

The Waves knotted the game at 2 when Willie Shaw hit a two-run home run to right off Glendale starting pitcher Michael Robinson.

The Angelenos responded with what proved to be the winning run in the fourth.

With one out, Chapjian walked and moved to second on a balk before stealing third. Telesco then came through with a fly ball to left on a 3-1 pitch to drive in Chapjian.

“The corner infielders were in and the middle infielders were in about half way, so I wanted to get the ball in the air,” Telesco said. “I got the job done.

“You play your best when it’s a close game. You’ve got to find a way and play as hard as you can.”

Robinson went the first seven innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. Usui Kamakani pitched a scoreless eighth inning before Jeff Harvill retired the side in order in the ninth.

Franco Broyles and Julian Barzilli had two hits apiece for the Angelenos.

Glendale Coach Tony Riviera said the Angelenos have appeared to turn the corner after struggling at the beginning of the season.

“We are a good club now and the guys are playing nine innings together,” Riviera said. “Everybody has to contribute and when you get an opportunity, then you better seize the moment.”