Seahawks blank Santa Ana
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HUNTINGTON BEACH — Ocean View High baseball coach Shane Borowski had a simple, yet all-too accurate description of Alfredo Sepulveda.
“He was strike, get up there and throw the next strike, strike, get up there and throw the next strike,” Borowski said. “His tempo was excellent.”
And the Seahawks provided plenty of run support for the sophomore right-hander, too, cruising to a 7-0 Golden West League victory over Santa Ana Friday at Ocean View High.
Sepulveda allowed just three hits and one walk, striking out 12 while improving to 5-2. It was the kind of pitching performance that the Seahawks were definitely looking for after suffering a tough 5-4 loss to the Saints on the road Wednesday.
“I just set out to do my thing, do what I need to do to help us win,” Sepulveda said. “We lost to them over there. We needed this win.”
Ocean View (13-7, 6-3 in league), trying to defend its league title, remains a game back of Orange and Westminster (both 7-2 in league). Ocean View and Orange next meet for a home-and-home, beginning Wednesday at Orange High.
On Friday, Ocean View got all it needed in the second inning. Blake Walker singled to start it off, then Kevin Nance bunted for a hit.
Blake Hitchcock then battled Santa Ana starter Robert Gonzalez to a full count, fouling off several pitches before roping a two-RBI triple to the wall in right-center. Hitchcock wound also eventually score.
With his team up, 4-0, heading into the bottom of the sixth, Borowski challenged the Seahawks to continue piling it on. And they responded.
“We were only up four at that time, and one swing can tie it there,” Borowski said. “In high school baseball, anything can happen. We did a good job of putting the nail in the coffin, taking the wind out of their sails.”
Nance (three for three) singled to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on Mackey’s double. Mackey then scored when Sepulveda’s blooper into center landed between three Saints fielders.
Junior second baseman Aaron Delgado added the finishing touches with an RBI single to left.
With six league games remaining, a lot can still happen, but Ocean View would obviously like to take care of business against Orange. The Panthers won at Ocean View on March 27, 5-4, in the teams’ first league meeting.
“Orange always plays us tough,” Borowski said. “I’m really hoping our guys rise to the occasion and take it personal when we play them. They always seem to come to our place and stick it to us, so I’d like to return the favor.”
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