Barons’ streak ends

The streak that helped put the Fountain Valley baseball team comfortably at the top of the Sunset League race came to an end Friday.

Despite the loss, the Barons were still the league leaders heading into the final four games of the regular season.

Fountain Valley saw its 15-game win streak halted by a Los Alamitos team the Barons twice had previously defeated. The Griffins rode a five-hitter by Jake Nix, who allowed five hits, and received five runs batted in from Gianni Castillo, in defeating the Barons, 10-3.

Fountain Valley, which entered the game ranked No. 2, is now No. 3 in this week’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll.

Brock Lundquist homered and doubled for the Barons, who still have a three-game lead in the Sunset race at 10-1.

Fountain Valley was 21-2 overall entering the week.

“We give [Jake] Nix credit,” Fountain Valley Coach Deric Yanagisawa said. “He pitched a great game. He was able to get a secondary pitch over for a strike, which he wasn’t able to do in the first meeting.

“This was a good character-building game for us. We will learn from Friday and become better for it. We will be better mentally going forward. We have a big week ahead of us against Edison.”

Fountain Valley won the first two of the three-game series against Los Alamitos. The second win came on April 24, a 4-0 victory at Los Alamitos (13-8, 5-6 in league). Monty Plattner tossed a two-hitter in improving to 8-0. John Shattles homered, both Daniel Rosica and Justin Cobb doubled in going two for three, and Lundquist also doubled.

Fountain Valley, which is seeking its first Sunset championship since 2002, finishes its league series with Edison this week. The teams met Wednesday but the score wasn’t available at press time. The Barons have a three-game lead on second-place Marina and can clinch no worse than a tie for the league title with a win Wednesday.

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Edison-Marina

The Chargers and Vikings split their Sunset games in recent action.

Marina took Friday’s contest, 2-0, at Edison. Jack Westermeyer (6-1) threw five innings and allowed four hits with four strikeouts. Steven Gingery pitched two scoreless innings to close the game and earn his fifth save.

The Vikings scored their initial run in the opening inning when Tyler Mildenberg and Landon Marshall opened with singles, and Mildenberg went on to score when Grant Mayeaux hit into a double play.

Jake Arledge scored on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh to close out the scoring.

Marshall and Arledge each had two hits for the Vikings who went to 7-4 in league, good for second place, and 14-8 overall.

Edison entered the week 5-6 in league and 11-11 overall.

“This game was big because it gave us the head-to-head against Edison,” said Marina Coach Bob Marshall, whose team took the league series from the Chargers, 2-1. “[Jack] Westermeyer and [Steven] Gingery were dominant and we found just enough offense to get through.”

Edison took a 4-0 lead in the April 24 meeting between the teams and held on for a 4-3 win. Brian Schales had a hit and three RBIs, Parker Quenneville had a hit and drove in a run, and Nick Mailman had two hits for the Chargers.

Jake Bauers went three for four and Austin Moore two for three for Marina.

The Vikings played Newport Harbor and the Chargers took on Fountain Valley Wednesday. Scores from both games weren’t available at press time.

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Huntington Beach-Newport Harbor

Huntington split the final two games of its Sunset series with Newport Harbor, and took the series, 2-1.

The Oilers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the series on April 24 when they shut down the Sailors, 1-0. Andrew Arledge (2.25 ERA) threw a complete-game, five-hit shutout to run his record to 3-2. Marcus Mayorga hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth to score the game’s lone run.

On Friday, Huntington managed eight hits but dropped a 3-1 game to Newport. Mayorga led the offense with a three-for-three performance.

The Oilers headed into the week with 3-8 league (tied for fourth place) and 10-12 overall records.

“We squandered opportunities all day,” Huntington Coach Benji Medure said of Friday’s setback. “We had the runners in scoring position but could not get them across. I am frustrated and I know the kids are too, but we have to keep grinding.”

Huntington met Los Alamitos Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

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Ocean View-Westminster

Ocean View started its week still alive in its quest for a CIF playoff berth despite dropping both recent games to Westminster.

In Friday’s league series finale between the teams, the Seahawks fell, 6-3. James Wilson and Jett Volo both went two for two in the loss.

The outcome left Ocean View with a 4-7 league record and 6-15 overall record.

“This was a game we really needed to stay in the playoff hunt,” Seahawks Coach Shane Borowski said. “Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way. Ramon Sepulveda pitched a great game, but we caught some bad breaks in the first inning, and just couldn’t catch up from there.

“We really need to put together a winning streak to finish off the year if we want to make the playoffs.”

Ocean View also lost, 8-2, after taking a 1-0 lead off Westminster ace and UC Santa Barbara-signee Tyler Mahle in the April 24 game. Jared Goodman went two for two with a walk, RBI and run scored for the Seahawks.

Westminster claimed the league series, 3-0.

Ocean View played against Orange Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time.

League action for the local teams continues at 3:15 p.m. Friday with Fountain Valley hosting Edison, Huntington hosting Los Alamitos, Marina traveling to Newport Harbor, and Ocean View visiting Orange.

Huntington plays host to Edison, Fountain Valley is at home against Marina, and Ocean View plays host to Loara in 3:15 p.m. games on Tuesday.