Baseball Roundup: Barons still on top

The Fountain Valley High express keeps on churning.

The Barons and Newport Harbor got a jump on the rest of their Sunset League baseball brethren by playing on Tuesday and on their home field, the Barons produced a 13-3 victory over the Sailors.

Fountain Valley, which leads the Sunset race at 8-0, scored eight runs in the bottom of the sixth to take control and had 17 hits for the game. Daniel Patzlaff went two for four with a home run and four runs batted in, Brock Lundquist went three for four with a home run, and John Shattles, Justin Brand and Jordan Lucio all went two for four.

Monty Plattner worked the first five innings and got the win. The senior is now 7-0.

“Our offense has started to help our pitching staff,” Fountain Valley Coach Deric Yanagisawa said. “The hitters are showing some discipline at the plate and are really doing a good job of putting pressure on the opposing pitcher.”

Yanagisawa said his squad has gotten key contributions from across the board, all of which have helped fashion a 12-game win streak that has taken the Barons to an overall record of 19-1.

Fountain Valley, which has scored 119 runs during its win streak, is ranked No. 2 behind Mater Dei in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll.

“We have been getting productivity from a lot of different players,” Yanagisawa said. “Guys like Scott Schultz and Joey Loranger have given us quality innings when we needed them. JT Navarro and Daniel Rosica have stepped up defensively late in games. Nick Yang has given us some big pinch hit at bats with runners in scoring position.

“We have relied on just about each player to help us be successful thus far. We’ll continue to count on everybody’s contributions.”

Fountain Valley and Newport Harbor completed their three-game league series Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time. Next week, the Barons play two games against Los Alamitos starting with a 3:15 p.m. game Wednesday at Los Al.

In two Sunset League games in the past week, Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach played two incredible games that went down to the final out. It’s too bad the league series between the Barons and Oilers has come to an end.

In all, there were 40 runs scored in the two games, both one-run victories for Fountain Valley, who took the series from the Oilers, 3-0.

Two days removed from a thriller between the teams at Fountain Valley, the Barons and Oilers gave an encore Friday that proved as scintillating as the game’s ending on April 10. As was the case in their first encounter, the Barons jumped out to a huge lead, then had to fend off an outstanding comeback by the host Oilers, to hold on for a 9-8 victory.

Fountain Valley had used a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning April 10 to come away with a 12-11 victory. Friday’s game had an eerily similar feel to it and despite the offense, and there was plenty of fireworks for both teams, it was a huge defensive play that ended this game.

A relay throw from right fielder Jacob Peralta to Jordan Lucio, then catcher Dillon Persinger, cut down the tying run in a close play at the plate with two out in the bottom of the seventh.

“This was your typical Sunset League baseball game,” Yanagisawa said, shaking his head at the thought of his team escaping Huntington’s spirited comeback. “You have to give Huntington credit. They trailed big again early, like they did on Wednesday, but I tip my hat to Coach Benji [Medure] for keeping his team in the game.

“But, you have to give our kids credit, too, They showed a lot of resiliency in the late innings, and that’s the sign of a good team.”

Fountain Valley powered its way to a big lead Friday. The Barons forged a 9-1 advantage through 3 1/2 innings. In the April 10, 12-11 win, the Barons staked their way to a 6-0 lead after one inning. They held six-run leads on two other occasions before Huntington stormed back to tie the score in the top of the sixth. The Barons got the win in the bottom of the seventh on Daniel Patzlaff’s solo home run. Patzlaff earlier had hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning that extended the Barons’ lead to 11-5.

Patzlaff, a senior, was at it again Friday. He homered twice, the first time on a two-run shot in the top of the first inning to give Fountain Valley an immediate, 2-0 lead. His second homer came in his second at-bat and cleared the fence in left field. The solo homer came four pitches after Brock Lundquist had opened the third inning by taking his first pitch for a home run to right field.

In the two games, Patzlaff homered four times among five hits, drove in eight runs, and scored seven times.

Justin Brand doubled and later delivered a bigger blow with two out in the top of the fourth by hitting a grand slam well beyond the 275-foot marker on the left field fence. It put the Barons in front, 9-1.

Huntington’s torrid rally included a five-run fourth inning that included an RBI single by Dillon Millar, two-RBI hit by Jesse Kuet and RBI double by Clint Jack.

Kuet rocked a two-run home run on a full count in the bottom of the sixth to draw Huntington (9-9, 2-5 in league) within 9-8.

“I told our kids that I was proud to be a part of these last two games,” Medure said. “That was two of the most critical, crucial, incredible games that I have been part of in 13 years [of coaching].

“I think it’s a testament to our kids that they came back the way they did. I think the fact that the same thing happed two days ago, let them know that the game wasn’t over. They had a never-say-die attitude.”

Huntington played a league game Wednesday at Marina. The score wasn’t available at press time. The Oilers also play a 3:15 p.m. game Friday at Marina. Next week, they start a two-game series with Newport Harbor and play host to the Sailors at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

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Edison: The Chargers won their fourth consecutive game and climbed up the Sunset League standings by sweeping Newport Harbor last week.

The sweep started with an 11-3 win at Newport on April 10. The Chargers (10-8, 4-3) pounded out 18 hits, which included a home run by Jake Lesinski, who went two for three with five RBIs. Dylan Sneed started a big week at the plate by going four for four with a double and RBI, and Brian Schales also went four for four with a walk and RBI. Nick Mailman went three for three with two doubles and two RBIs, Tyler Jones went two for three, John Freedman tripled and Dante Capoccia and Don Pierce each had an RBI.

Sophomore Noah Kronfly went the distance and earned his third pitching win of the season.

In the final series game between the teams Friday, Edison overcame a 1-0 deficit to edge the visiting Sailors, 2-1. Joey DeMarco hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Chargers (10-8, 4-3) in front for good, and Sneed went two for two. Jones (4-3) threw a complete-game victory. The senior right-hander gave up six hits and struck out four.

Edison played Los Alamitos Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time. The Chargers and Griffins meet for the third time in league play at 3:15 p.m. Friday at Los Al.

Next week, the Chargers play host to Marina at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.

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Marina: The Vikings split two games with Los Alamitos in the past week and took the Sunset League series from the Griffins, 2-1.

Marina (11-7, 4-3) got its second win in league play against Los Al by blanking the host Griffins, 2-0, Friday. Jack Westermeyer threw a complete-game shutout to improve to 3-1. Jake Bauers hit a solo home run in the first inning, and Grant Mayeaux hit a solo home run in the second inning.

“Jack Westermeyer once again pitched an outstanding game,” Marina Coach Bob Marshall said of the senior left-hander. “He consistently worked ahead of Los Alamitos hitters and got our team off the field quickly. The tempo of the game was quick and with the two home runs gave us just enough to gain the victory. Our defense made some outstanding plays.”

Marshall noted the plays turned in at third base by Tyler Mildenberg, and at shortstop by Mayeaux.

“Credit Los Alamitos for putting pressure on us the entire game,” Marshall said. “They are relentless. Their record of 2-5 in league is misleading. [Head Coach] Matt Nuez had his players prepared very well and we were able to just get the edge on them.”

Friday’s shutout allowed Marina to bounce back from a 4-1 home loss to Los Al on April 10.

Following Friday’s home game against Huntington, Marina plays host to Edison at 3;15 p.m. Wednesday.

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Ocean View: The Seahawks stayed in the thick of the Golden West League race by taking a pair of one-run victories last week from Santa Ana.

In the final game of their league series Friday, Ocean View finished 3-0 against the Saints by winning, 6-5, at Santa Ana. Ramon Sepulveda (1-2) pitched 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief , allowing three hits with three strikeouts and didn’t give up a walk. Jared Goodman went two for four with two RBIs and two runs scored for the Seahawks (6-11, 4-3).

Goodman is hitting .528 and has driven in 22 runs in Ocean View’s 17 games.

“This was a big game for us,” Ocean View Coach Shane Borowski said. “We really needed the win to keep pace with the league leaders and keep our playoff chances alive. We were missing Luke Fell, who was out with salmonella poisoning, and missing a senior captain is a big loss for such a young team.

“I am really proud of how we came together to get the win. It was a total team effort. Ramon [Sepulveda] pitched great, and our two other captains [Goodman, Dallas Broge] really stepped up their game to bring it home for us. I’m really proud of our guys.”

Ocean View used a complete-team effort on April 10 to score a 5-4 decision over Santa Ana, getting the win on Fell’s walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh. Fell also recorded the pitching win by throwing 2 1/3 innings of relief and held the Saints scoreless.

Ocean View took on Segerstrom Wednesday. The score wasn’t available at press time. The Seahawks and Jaguars complete their three-game league series Friday at 3:15 p.m. at Ocean View. Next week, the Seahawks face Westminster twice starting with a 3:15 p.m. game at Westminster Wednesday.

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca