Chargers’ first-class win

The Edison High softball team won its first Sunset League game of the 2006 season Tuesday, and it’s a victory head coach Kendra Tarrant won’t soon forget.

The Chargers squared their league mark at 1-1 by defeating rival Fountain Valley, 3-1, at Edison.

“To get that first league win, against our arch-rival, well, it doesn’t get sweeter than that,” Tarrant said.

The first-year head coach played at Edison, where she graduated in 2000, and spent five years as an assistant coach in the program.

“Both offensively and defensively, we’re starting to play smart softball,” she said. “We’re finally starting to play well on defense and we’re beginning to take advantage of run-scoring opportunities.”

The Chargers took advantage of two such offensive opportunities Tuesday.

In the first inning, Jessica Aldrich walked before sophomore Dani Miller took the first pitch offered to her over the fence in left-centerfield.

It became 3-0 in the third inning when Loryn Kanemaru drew a walk, stole a base and came home on Jessica Marlow’s RBI single.

Those were all the runs the Chargers would need, as Aldrich (1-1 in league, 5-5-1 overall), in a complete-game victory, allowed the Barons just one run on six hits. The senior struck out three.

Previously, Edison had defeated Temescal Canyon, 5-4. Aldrich again recorded the pitching win and Rachel Miller, twin of Dani, homered for the Chargers.

In other Sunset League softball Tuesday, Michelle Fuzzard had three hits, an RBI and run scored and Krystal Heinle threw a one-hitter as host Marina (2-0) blanked Huntington Beach (0-2), 10-0.

The teams meet again today (3:15 p.m.) at Huntington.

In baseball:

Huntington and Edison traveled Las Vegas during spring break to compete at the Durango Classic, and each returned home to Surf City with three wins apiece.

Huntington went 3-1 during the tournament, which consisted of pool play. The Oilers bolted to an early lead and went on to record a 15-10 victory over Birmingham of the Los Angeles City Section in their pool play opener.

Huntington led, 13-0, in the second quarter, and Oilers Coach Benji Medure substituted throughout the remainder of the game.

In its second game, Huntington fell to Kennedy, also of the L.A. City Section, 8-5. The Oilers bounced back to defeat Centennial of Nevada, 6-4, and L.A. City Section Banning, 11-3.

“We got to play a lot of different kids in different spots and it made us a stronger team,” Medure said. “We really bonded this week and it should help us make a run at the playoffs in the Sunset League.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I think we can do it.”

Like Huntington, Edison also went 3-1 at the tournament.

The Chargers opened pool play with a 13-9 loss to Cleveland of the L.A. City Section, but rolled off victories over Flowing Wells of Arizona (9-3), Bonanza of Nevada (9-3) and scored an 12-1, mercy rule win over Sylmar of the L.A. City Section.

Valle Fluss, John Ward and Aaron Amaral recorded pitching wins for the Chargers.

“I was happy with the way the kids played,” Edison Coach Steve Lambright said. “Everybody got to play and everybody contributed in one way or another.

“We swung the bats really well, too. We had more than 40 hits in the four games.”

Marina posted a 2-2 record at the Norco Tournament, which ended in a 4-1 loss to Corona in the third-place game.

The Vikings fell to Santiago of Corona, 2-1, in their tournament opener, then defeated Notre Vista of Riverside, 4-3, and Fullerton, 6-3, the latter game delayed by rain.

Marina’s Billy Nowlin was named to the all-tournament team.

“We played well over all,” Marina Coach Paul Renfrow said. “Pitching and defense was good, but we just could not get a timely hit. We had runners in scoring position all tournament but could not get the key hit.

“The tournament was good for the young Viking team. The experience will help in the last part of a tough Sunset League race.”

Ocean View finished runner-up at the Northview Tournament.

The Seahawks defeated Whittier (5-1), Charter Oaks (7-4) and Northview (6-2), but fell in the championship game to Los Altos, 6-2.

“I knew we were in trouble when I lost the coin flip,” Ocean View Coach Shane Borowski said.

The coin flip determined which team would be the host team for the game.

“Something told me to call tails, but I always go with heads,” Borowski said. “I should have listened to something.”

The Seahawks went on to commit four errors despite a good pitching performance from James Kang who gave up just three earned runs.

“We were not the same team that we usually are,” Borowski said. “Typically, we’re the ones forcing the issue on teams, putting the ball in play, forcing them to make the plays. Today, they did it to us and we did not respond. We got a taste of our own medicine.

“Fortunately, it was out of league. I’m still happy with our overall performance in this very competitive tournament.”