ORANGE COUNTY PREP BASEBALL : Roundup : Villa Park Wins 6th Game in Row, Maintains 1-Game Lead in League

Villa Park High School didn’t look as if it would be a challenger for the Century League baseball championship after it opened its season with four straight nonleague losses.

But thanks to a six-game winning streak, including Tuesday’s 4-0 victory at Santa Ana Valley, Villa Park (7-3, 13-8) is in first place, a game ahead of Canyon and two ahead of Santa Ana, Santa Ana Valley and Foothill.

“This team has grown together,” said Dave Ochoa, Spartan coach. “We are building as the season continues, and everyone seems to help each other out.”

Villa Park opened league play with two losses but has since won seven of eight league games.

Spartan left-hander Tom Kelly (7-3) pitched a five-hitter Tuesday and struck out nine in his eighth complete game of the season.

The only time Kelly, a senior, got in trouble was in the seventh inning, when the Falcons (5-5, 8-12) loaded the bases with two hits and a walk. But Kelly struck out pinch-hitter Juan Sanchez to end the game.

“My curveball was just great today,” Kelly said. “I pride myself on going the distance, and I feel I get stronger as the game goes on.”

The Spartans scored three runs in the first inning on a bases-empty home run by John Watrous and a two-run homer by Tony Inga. Falcon starter Hector Lambaren (4-4) then settled down, allowing only one more run.

Villa Park added its final run in the sixth when sophomore Trent Eye tripled to right and scored on Tom Roth’s single.

In other Century League games:

Foothill 7, Santa Ana 5--The Knights scored six runs in the sixth inning at Santa Ana. Foothill (5-5, 9-11) trailed, 5-1, in the sixth; Corey Parker’s three-run home run put the Knights ahead, 6-5.

Parker then scored on a single. Brian Woods was 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a run. Santa Ana’s Alex Espinoza was 2 for 2, walked twice and had two RBIs.

Canyon 11, El Modena 0--Dave Bladow (7-2) gave up four hits, walked three and struck out five in five innings for the Comanches at Canyon. Bladow was relieved in the sixth by Scott Myers, who allowed no hits and struck out two in two innings.

Ralph Pacheco was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run, Darren O’Banion scored four runs, and Brian Lou tripled with the bases loaded in the second inning to lead Canyon (6-4, 13-6).

In the Academy League:

Leffingwell Christian 12, Newport Christian 0--Angelo Michaels went 2 for 5 with five RBIs and Kevin Brown went 3 for 4 with a RBI to lead Leffingwell Christian at home. Newport Christian is 4-3 and 8-3.

In the Sunset League:

Ocean View 4, Westminster 3--The first-place Seahawks (9-1, 15-4) scored the deciding run on an error in the top of the third inning to defeat the Lions (5-4-1, 14-5-1) at Westminster High.

Ocean View scored three runs in the second on RBI singles by Gary Christopherson and Mike Danduran and an RBI double by Matt Bertram.

In the third, David Holdridge and Vic Fresca singled, and Danduran flied out to left field. Westminster left fielder Jim Slagle made a diving catch on Danduran’s hit and tried to pick Holdridge off at second, but his throw sailed into the Seahawk dugout, allowing Holdridge to score.

Dan Naulty (6-1) pitched the first four innings, and Mike Fyhrie pitched the last three innings to earn a save. Al Rodriguez and Steve Turner doubled for the Lions.

Huntington Beach 4, Edison 3--Brian McLeod hit a home run, his seventh, in the fifth inning to break a 3-3 tie at Huntington Beach. The Oilers are 4-5-1, 11-6-1; the Chargers are 6-4, 13-7.

McLeod (1-1) also pitched a four-hitter. Brian Mena hit a home run in the fifth inning to tie the score for the Oilers.

Fountain Valley 6, Marina 5 (8 innings)--George Hoffstaetter’s two-out double in the top of the eighth inning scored Brad Futak with the winning run to lift the Barons (4-6, 8-10) past the Vikings (1-9, 8-12) at Marina.

Jeff Lyman was 3 for 4 with two RBIs for Fountain Valley, and Matt Hattabaugh led Marina with two hits and an RBI.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Orange 6, Trabuco Hills 2--John Miscovich and Emilio Avila each hit home runs to lead the Panthers (8-2, 14-6) at home. The win gives Orange sole possession of first place; Trabuco Hills fell to 7-3 in league.

Miscovich was 2 for 3 with a two-run home run in the first inning and an RBI double in the fifth. Avila was 2 for 3 and hit a home run in the sixth inning. Winning pitcher Aaron Vanderaa (6-1) pitched a six-hitter and struck out five.

Laguna Hills 9, Woodbridge 0--Jon Willard pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11 at Woodbridge.

Mike Smedes was 2 for 3 with a double, a triple and an RBI, and Arron Arredondo had a triple with three RBIs to help Laguna Hills (6-4, 12-8) to their third straight shutout.

Mark Fertig allowed nine hits in five innings for the Warriors. Kevin Caporicci allowed two hits after relieving Fertig in the sixth.

Costa Mesa 9, Laguna Beach 5--Mike Crowe was 3 for 4 with three RBIs, Huy Kieu was 2 for 2 and scored three runs and Darren Mashburn was 2 for 2 with two RBIs to lead the Mustangs at Costa Mesa.

Jason Mikalauskis (4-4) allowed 11 hits and struck out 5 in a complete-game win for Costa Mesa (2-8, 4-15). Danny Lane was 2 for 4 with a double and a home run, and Keith McDonald was 3 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Artists (1-9).

In the Olympic League:

Orange Lutheran 12, Ontario Christian 0--Chris Minogue was 4 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, two RBIs and two runs to lead the Lancers (6-2, 14-6) over the Knights (2-6, 3-9) at Orange Lutheran.

Jeff Simmons (3-1) pitched a three-hitter and struck out seven. Ken Hughie added two hits, two runs and two RBIs for Orange Lutheran.

Valley Christian 7, Capistrano Valley Christian 4--Mike DeMaster was 3 for 3 with three RBIs and Darian Schoolmeester was 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Crusaders at Valley Christian. Ryan Riemstra (4-0) gave up four hits and struck out one for the Crusaders (6-1, 14-2).