Baseball: Sailors battle, but fall

Tony Altobelli

ALISO VIEJO - It wasn’t the result that Chris Ward wanted to end

his Newport Harbor High baseball career with, but it wasn’t too shabby,

either.

Ward tossed a complete-game two-hitter, but host Aliso Niguel spoiled

the senior’s final outing with a 2-0 Sea View League win Thursday.

“Chris did an outstanding job today,” Newport Coach Jim Kiefer said of

Ward. “He’s worked hard all season long and today, he saw some of the

fruits of his labor out there.”

Ward struck out four and walked six, but it was the two hits he

allowed which came back to haunt him.

The Wolverines (10-6 in league) scored an unearned run in the first

inning and an earned run in the second, thanks to RBI singles by Sean

Koch and Ryan Matsunaga. Ward blanked Aliso the rest of the way.

Wolverines’ pitcher Darren Pitchford also tossed a complete-game

two-hitter, using his array of breaking stuff to keep the Sailors (3-13

in league) off balance.

Senior catcher Garrett Brant had both of Newport’s hits, singles in

the first and sixth innings.

“That was also a nice way for Garrett to end his career at Newport,”

Kiefer said. “He’s grown up a lot this year as a player and as a team

leader.”

Newport’s best chance to score came in the first inning when Mike

Jones struck out, but reached first base when the third strike was

dropped by Aliso’s catcher. Jones went to second on Alan Lane’s

successful sacrifice bunt and went to third on Brant’s single to center.

But Pitchford battled back as the Wolverines turned a 4-6-3 double

play to end the threat.

Aliso had at least one runner on each inning, but Ward showed his

senior grit to battle out of numerous jams.

“This was a team that had to get the most out of what we had

available,” Kiefer said. “Overall, I think we improved as the season went

along. Our pitching was stronger and our offense was there at times. This

is a young team that got some valuable experience for next season.”

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Aliso Niguel 2, Newport Harbor 0

Newport 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

Aliso Niguel 110 000 x - 2 2 0

Ward and Brant; Pitchford and Serocke. W - Pitchford. L - Ward, 2-4.