Garden Grove League Baseball : Ferguson’s Triple Helps Garden Grove to Title, 7-5 : Argonauts Rally, Then Hold Off Bolsa Grande

Garden Grove High School staged a rally and then shut down a Bolsa Grande comeback attempt Friday to win the Garden Grove league title by defeating the Matadors, 7-5, at Bolsa Grande.

“We didn’t roll over and die,” Argonaut Coach Jim Rawls said. “Everyone on this team played a role in us winning this title.”

Bolsa Grande took an early 3-0 lead. With two men on, Rob Walker hit a fastball over the head of center fielder Eric Means for an inside-the-park home run.

Meanwhile, Matador pitcher Tony Beall (4-8) was keeping the Argonauts off-balance, allowing only three hits and one run through the first five innings. Using a sweeping curveball, Beall struck out six.

Three Bolsa Grande errors gave Garden Grove two runs in the sixth inning to tie the score at 3-3. A pinch-hit single by Steve Freuh scored another run, but the key blow of the inning was second baseman Mike Ferguson’s bases-loaded, two-out triple into left-center, which scored three runs and gave the Argonauts a 7-3 advantage.

“I moved Fergy up in the order today, into the No. 2 position, because he has an outstanding on-base percentage, and he proved me right with the triple,” Rawls said.

Jeff Kanagae threw six innings for the Argonauts, allowing three runs and four hits. Mike Kiefer took over in the seventh inning, giving up a two-run double to Walker but then striking out two of the last three batters for the victory.

“Kiefer pitched a strong inning considering he pitched on Wednesday, “ Rawls said. “Coming off the bench is tough for anyone.”

Garden Grove (11-4, 14-7) last won the league title in 1983.

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot,” Ferguson said. “It’s nice to win the league by ourselves.”

Rawls, who also coaches the football team, collected his first league title.

“The kids are the ones who won it, but at least we don’t have to share it with anyone,” he said.

Bolsa Grande finishes the season 7-8, 11-11.

In other Garden Grove League action:

La Quinta 9, Los Amigos 4--The Aztecs (10-5, 18-8) fell behind by four runs in the first inning, but rallied for six runs in the fourth for the victory. La Quinta’s starting pitcher, Randy McGlenn, could only get one out as he allowed three runs in the first. James Marquez came in to relieve and gave up another run before retiring the Lobos. From there, Marquez pitched a shutout, as the Aztecs’ bats started to produce runs. They scored three runs in the first and went ahead with six runs in the fourth inning. Joey Dunn and Terry Bryant each had bases-loaded doubles in the fourth inning to spark the La Quinta rally.

Rancho Alamitos 6, Santiago 1--Junior right-hander Pat Davif (7-2) pitched a two-hitter over six innings to get the win for the Vaqueros (7-8, 11-12-1). Roger Carter was 2 for 4 with two RBIs, and Steve Collier was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for Rancho Alamitos. The Vaqueros, who scored one run in each of the first four innings, were scoreless in the fifth but came back to score twice in the sixth. Dalan Taylor was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for Rancho Alamitos, which had 11 hits. Despite the loss, Santiago (9-6, 14-9) advances to the playoffs.