Newport Harbor can’t keep up with Edison

HUNTINGTON BEACH — In a couple years, the left-hander on the mound against Newport Harbor High has the potential to be 6-foot-10.

Scary. As if Edison freshman Henry Owens needs a boost. He towered over the Sailors Wednesday.

Now Owens is seven inches away from looking like a moving skyscraper.

“Just wait and he might be Randy Johnson’s size,” Edison Coach Steve Lambright said. “Don’t be surprised if you see many scouts at our games when he’s a senior and he’s popping 100 mph on the gun.”

The scouts would’ve liked Owens’ performance against the Sailors. The height and speed are nowhere close to where Lambright envisions both being.

But Owens pitched effectively during his 4 2/3 innings, immediately getting run support to record the victory in the Chargers’ 14-5 Sunset League rout at home.

A 6-0 lead in the first inning helped Owens (4-2) cruise in his second win over Newport Harbor (6-9-1, 2-6 in league).

He struck out four and allowed five hits and one earned run before leaving in the fifth, a shorter outing than his six-inning stint in the Chargers’ 4-2 win against the Sailors on March 18.

Offensively, the production picked up for Edison (9-12, 5-3), too.

In three of the previous four league games, the Chargers combined to score eight runs. They surpassed that total in the second inning against Newport Harbor.

Ryan Miller delivered throughout. He drove in three runs, two on a blast to right-center field in the first, followed by a sacrifice fly to deep left in the second, giving Edison a 10-1 lead.

Quite a turnaround for the Chargers, coming off a one-hit shutout loss at Marina last week. A couple of tweaks in the lineup and they didn’t waste any time against Newport Harbor’s starter.

The first five batters singled, in all the usually steady right-hander gave up 10 hits before exiting after one inning.

“They got in a track meet of sorts,” Newport Harbor Coach Evan Chalmers described the Chargers’ first two innings. “It’s hard to chase that. We don’t score in bunches like that.

“Their guys battled and went deep into counts several different times successfully.”

The Sailors patience wore thin. They tried to match Edison, resulting mostly in pop-ups as the Sailors fell nine hits short of an 18-hit attack featuring four extra-base hits.

Newport Harbor designated hitter Alex Rios did his best, going two for four with three runs batted in. The junior belted a two-run home run to center field in the sixth off reliever Bryan Adams.

Other than that, Miller, a senior shortstop, stole the show. He doubled twice and hit his second homer of the season.

The two will play again Friday at 3:15 p.m. This time at Newport Harbor, where ace RJ D’Cruz (1-4) will get the nod. The senior sat out Wednesday, resting his left non-throwing shoulder he hurt before spring break.

“We got our ace throwing, too,” said Miller of Kurt Heyer (3-4). “[Owens and Heyer] are really effective when they go back to back.”

This will be Heyer’s first start against Newport Harbor. He’s a different pitcher, throws harder, high 80s, compared to Owens’ mid 80s.

One thing is for sure, Heyer is just as tough as Owens, or better. Heyer won the league’s Rookie of the Year award last season.

Now it appears Owens is next in line.

“He has the potential,” Lambright said. “For a freshman that’s awfully good.”

You just have to look up to see how good Owens is.

Sunset League

Edison 14, Newport Harbor 5

SCORE BY INNINGS

Brennan, Albert (2), Grace (5), Freiberg (6) and Bonn; Owens, Adams (5) and Higashioka. W – Owens, 4-2. L – Brennan, 2-5. 2B – McCann (NH), Cablay (NH), Miller (E) 2, Phillips (E). HR – Rios (NH), Miller (E).

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.