Inconsistency continues to plague Edison

The Edison High baseball team suffered its worst loss of the season as Orange Lutheran romped, 12-1, in the third-place game of the National Classic Tournament on April 8 at El Dorado High.

Edison, which suffered a tough 2-1 loss to El Dorado in the tournament semifinals the previous night, appeared flat all game against the Lancers. The 11-run margin made it the Chargers’ worst loss of the season.

“We threw some pitchers who hadn’t had a chance to pitch much all year,” Edison Coach Steve Lambright said. “That’s what tournaments are for; you want to give them an opportunity. But, you know, we only scored one run. They could have pitched their butts off and we still wouldn’t have done it. I’m just disappointed in our effort. It’s not a situation where it’s about the results, it’s about our approach to the game. Our approach to the game wasn’t very good today.”

“It’s almost like we can’t seem to get the consistency; it’s all up here,” Lambright continued, pointing to his head. “It’s all mental. How bad do they want it? I think at times they show up and they can beat anyone in high school baseball, and then we can become very average. The thing I keep telling them is that they’re going to get everyone’s A game. You are a team that finished in the CIF finals last year, and the program is obviously well-known in the area. [Opponents] want to beat you, and our guys haven’t responded to that challenge on a consistent basis. That’s what I’m disappointed in.”

Edison senior pitcher Brad Schultz, making his first start of the season, lasted into the fourth. He was relieved by senior Markus Trujillo and juniors Roland Blackiston and Jon Torres. The Chargers (9-6) left five runners on in the first two innings and were shut out until the seventh. After Henry Owens’ pinch-hit single, a double to right by junior Eric Snyder scored pinch-runner Sean Whiteman.

Snyder, who was two for two with a pair of walks against Orange Lutheran, went seven for 14 in the tournament. He and A.J. Libuano were named to the all-tournament team.

Edison is in first place in the Sunset League at 4-1, pending a game at Los Alamitos on Wednesday. Lambright said the Chargers are trying to win back-to-back league titles for the first time in history.

Marina: The Vikings sat at 2-3 in the Sunset League after spring break. They play Esperanza this week, with Wednesday’s game at home and Friday’s game on the road.

Fountain Valley: The Barons came into the week at last place in league, at 1-4. They play Newport Harbor this week, with Friday’s game on the road.

Ocean View: The Seahawks are in first place in the Golden West League, coming into the week with a perfect 5-0 record. Yet they faced a stiff challenge this week against Westminster (4-1 in league).

Ocean View is coming off a fourth-place finish at the OCNissan Select Invitational Tournament, falling to Woodbridge, 8-0, in the semifinals and Murrieta Valley, 7-6, in the third-place game.

The Seahawks (9-7) are trying to win their sixth league title in seven years after finishing second to Orange last year.

Huntington Beach: The Oilers, CIF Southern Section Division II finalists a season ago, are having a tough 2010 so far.

They are 1-4 in league and face Trabuco Hills this week as Sea View League play resumes.

Huntington went 2-2 in the San Luis Obispo Tournament over spring break.