OC Varsity » Games of the week

Baseball games of the week: La Habra vs. Fullerton

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:54:53 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

La Habra (14-6, 8-3) vs. Fullerton (14-4, 9-2)

When: Wednesday at Fullerton; Friday at La Habra

Outlook: A lot can change from week to week in baseball. Just ask the Fullerton Indians.

Last week, Fullerton had a three-game lead in the Freeway League. Then the Indians were swept by Sonora and all of a sudden, there is a fight for the league title.

Fullerton leads La Habra and Sonora by one game. The Raiders are playing Troy this week.

The key to the week for Fullerton will be how the pitching staff handles the La Habra offense.

The Highlanders scored 33 runs in two games against Sunny Hills last week. They have hit double-figures in runs in three of the previous four games.

Fullerton won the first game between the teams, 10-1, on April 1.

Can Fullerton regain its composure?

Will La Habra pound its way to a sweep?

What about Sonora?

Yes, folks, there is a fight going on in the Freeway League.

(All games start at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)
*Records are through May 4

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Baseball games of the week: Brea Olinda vs. Canyon

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:54:31 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

Brea Olinda (12-10, 7-4) vs. Canyon (13-8, 9-2)Wednesday at Canyon; Friday at Brea Olinda

When:

Outlook: Canyon begins the week with a two-game lead over Brea Olinda in the competitive Century League.

Canyon has a one-game lead over El Dorado, which is playing Villa Park.

Brea Olinda leads Villa Park by one game for third place.

See, how wild things are here.

Canyon is coming off of a two-game sweep of Tustin last week. Shannon Driscoll had seven RBIs in the series.

Brea Olinda split a pair with Villa Park last week both games were low-scoring affairs. Villa Park won Wednesday’s game 4-3 and Brea Olinda responded with a 2-1 victory.

The Wildcats won the first meeting, 8-1, making it that much more important for Canyon to try to sweep, so it can have the tiebreaker.

Will it happen? Or is Brea Olinda about to turn this league upside down?

(All games start at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)
*Records are through May 4

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Baseball games of the week: Westminster vs. Orange

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:54:12 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

Westminster (10-9, 7-4) vs. Orange (16-5, 9-2) Wednesday at Westminster; Friday at Orange

When:

Outlook: Westminster had a shot to take over the Golden West League, but last week happened for the Lions. Westminster was swept by Segerstrom, while Orange swept Ocean View.

That’s why the Panthers have a two-game lead heading into this week.

Orange is moving up in the minds of the CIF Division III coaches and the pitching is a key reason. Orange has allowed five runs in its previous four league games (all victories).

Gavin Stoecker (7-0) pitched a complete game Wednesday and Jake Cohen (4-1) allowed one run on three hits Friday.

Steven Garber is 4-1 for the Panthers and he leads them with a .448 batting average.

Westminster’ staff is led by MJ Morales (5-1). Kenny Chapple leads Westminster with a .541 average.

Will Orange’s pitching clinch the league title this week?

Can Westminster stay alive?

(All games start at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)
*Records are through May 4

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Baseball games of the week: Dana Hills vs. Mission Viejo

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:53:55 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

No. 8 Dana Hills (14-7, 7-4) vs. Mission Viejo (14-7, 5-6)Wednesday at Mission Viejo; Friday at Dana Hills

When:

Outlook: The Dolphins head into the week tied with Tesoro for second in the South Coast League, one game behind Capistrano Valley.

Dana Hills will end the season next week with a pair against Tesoro, but can’t look ahead. That’s because Mission Viejo is lurking in fourth place at 5-6.

A sweep this week would do wonders for the Diablos’ playoff chase.

Dana Hills swept Aliso Niguel last week. Eric Ehlow tossed a no-hitter and Peter Tago pitched late into his game.

Pitching and defense is the name of the game for the Dolphins.

Mission Viejo split a pair of game with San Clemente last week. Wednesday’s loss was a big for the Diablos, bringing them into this week two games back instead of one.

This series will likely be tight this week, especially with these two pitching staffs?

Who will be able to get the key hits?

(All games start at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)
*Records are through May 4

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Baseball games of the week: Orange Lutheran vs. Santa Margarita

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 06 May 2009 07:53:25 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

No. 10 Orange Lutheran (15-8, 6-5) vs. Santa Margarita (11-12, 6-5)Wednesday at Hart Park, 7 p.m.; Friday at Santa Margarita

When:

Outlook: The Lancers and Eagles meet with a possible playoff spot on the line. The teams are tied for third place and the final playoff spot out of the Trinity League.

It is a big week for both teams, especially since they will both end the season next week against the top teams in the league. Orange Lutheran will play Mater Dei and Santa Margarita will face JSerra.

The Lancers rebounded after getting swept by JSerra, by sweeping Servite. Bobby Wheatley threw a complete game, two-hit shutout Wednesday and Andrew Thurman got the victory Friday.

Santa Margarita was swept by Mater Dei last week, one week after sweeping St. John Bosco.

Robert Kelly (.553, six home runs) and Blake Leyva (.538) lead the Eagle offense, with Trayce Thompson supplying additional thunder with seven home runs.

Will the Orange Lutheran staff be up to the task?

Will things still be tied heading into next week?

(All games start at 3:15 p.m. unless noted)
*Records are through May 4

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Baseball games of the week: Santa Margarita vs. Mater Dei

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:50:27 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

Santa Margarita (11-9, 6-3) vs. No. 1 Mater Dei (17-3, 6-3)

When: Wednesday at Mater Dei, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at Santa Margarita, 6:30 p.m.

Outlook: Suddenly, Mater Dei’s road to a possible Trinity League title doesn’t look like a sure thing anymore.

The Monarchs split with Servite last week, while JSerra swept Orange Lutheran. That moved the Lions into sole possession of first place.

While all of that was happening, Santa Margarita was sweeping St. John Bosco to move the Eagles into a tie for second place with the Monarchs.

Are you following all of this?

Santa Margarita won the first meeting, 4-2, on March 27.

Robert Kelly pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on eight hits for the Eagles. Also in that game, Trayce Thompson hit two home runs.

He hasn’t hit a home run since April 11. He has seven on the season.

Can Mater Dei keep Thompson in the yard this week?

Can Mater Dei come up with a sweep to keep its title hopes alive?

(All games at 3:15 p.m., unless noted)

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Baseball games of the week: Edison vs. Marina

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:47:24 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

No. 4 Edison (15-3, 8-1) vs. No. 3 Marina (18-2, 8-1)

When: Wednesday at Marina; Friday at Edison

Outlook: First place is on the line when these two city rivals get together this week. Edison had a one-game lead but lost to Fountain Valley last week. Now, they’re tied.

It almost seems better this way, doesn’t it? Too bad this isn’t a four-game series.

Both teams are scheduled to send their best to the mound. Edison is slated to start Henry Owens (6-0) Wednesday against Race Parmenter (5-0).

Then Friday, Kurt Heyer (6-1) is set to face Paul Strong (5-1).

Strong struck out the first nine Edison batters he faced in the first meeting, but Edison got the last laugh. Chris Czernachowski’s two-run run double in the seventh lifted Edison to a 4-3 victory.

Will we have any late-inning drama this time around?

Who are you picking to win?

Should the winner of this series take over the No. 1 spot in next week’s county rankings?

(All games at 3:15 p.m., unless noted)

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Baseball games of the week: Tesoro vs. Capo Valley

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:44:42 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

No. 7 Tesoro (15-5, 6-3) vs. No. 6 Capistrano Valley (16-5, 7-2)

When: Wednesday at Capistrano Valley; Friday at Tesoro

Outlook: Welcome to this week’s must-see South Coast League series of the week. This week, we have first-place Capistrano Valley taking on second place Tesoro.

The Cougars swept Dana Hills last week thanks to the pitching of Tyler Matzek and Kevin Chambers. Matzek tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout in a 1-0 victory over Dana Hills.

Chambers followed that up with a complete game of his own, allowing two runs in a 5-2 victory.

Matzek enters the week at 6-1 with a 1.41 ERA and Chambers is 5-3 with a 2.60 ERA.

Steve McMichael leads Capistrano Valley with a .474 batting average.

Tesoro enters the week after splitting a two-game series with San Clemente.

Anthony Hutting (.471), Ryan Olive (.492), Austin O’Neal (.420), Conner Spencer (.456) are hitting over .400. Kris Paulino is at .500.

Will the Cougars be able to slow down this offense?

If you remember, Tesoro beat Chambers, 8-1, earlier this season.

(All games at 3:15 p.m., unless noted)

RELATED:

Baseball games of the week: Brea Olinda vs. Villa Park

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:40:54 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

Brea Olinda (11-9, 6-3) vs. Villa Park (12-9, 5-4)

When: Wednesday at Villa Park; Friday at Brea Olinda

Outlook: Brea Olinda enters the week tied with El Dorado for second place in the Century League, one game behind leader Canyon.

Essentially, Brea Olinda is in third, because it lost the season series to El Dorado. However, here comes Villa Park.

The Spartans bounced back after getting swept by Tustin, by sweeping El Modena.

Villa Park now finds itself one-game behind Brea Olinda and El Dorado. The Spartans won the first meeting, 8-2, on March 25.

Shane Fessel leads Villa Park with a .400 batting average. Nolan Hoppie and Daniel Warwick are both 4-2 for the Spartans and Chase Yamashiro is 3-1.

Brea Olinda swept Tustin last week. Tyler Kern leads the Wildcats with a .448 batting average. Hayden Greene (.417) and Trenton Broadsheet (.413) are both having good years.

Travis McGee is 5-3 with a 2.53 ERA for Brea Olinda.

Will Villa Park still be in the race after this week?

(All games at 3:15 p.m., unless noted)

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Baseball games of the week: Orange vs. Ocean View

Damian Calhoun, OCVarsity.com since 2004 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 08:37:28 +0000

This week I am picking the Top 5 Series of the Week. Here is one of them:

Orange (14-5, 7-2) vs. Ocean View (13-7, 6-3)

When: Wednesday at Orange; Friday at Ocean View

Outlook: Orange begins the week tied for first place in the Golden West League with Westminster. Ocean View is one-game back after splitting a two-game series with Santa Ana last week.

All three teams were tied for first place heading into last week.

While these two teams are meeting this week, Westminster is playing Segerstrom. Then next week, Westminster and Orange will meet.

The Panthers defeated the Seahawks, 5-4, in the first meeting.

Orange’s rotation is led by Gavin Stoecker, who is 6-2 with a 1.52 ERA, and Steve Garber, who is 4-1 with a 2.33 ERA.

The Seahawks also have some good arms in the rotation. Alfredo Sepulveda, a sophomore, is 5-2 after striking out 12 in an 8-0 victory over Santa Ana.

Andrew Bynum is 5-3 with a 1.57 ERA for the Seahawks.

Which pitching rotation will have the upper hand?

(All games at 3:15 p.m., unless noted)

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