Orange County Prep Baseball : Krueger Comes to His Own Defense as University Beats Estancia

By now, pitcher Todd Krueger of University High School has become accustomed to misplayed ground balls and throwing errors by his teammates.

Krueger, a senior left-hander, came into Wednesday’s game against Estancia with a 1.21 earned run average, but a 3-5 record.

“We haven’t played very good defense behind Todd,” said Chris Conlin, the Trojans’ first-year coach.

The Trojans continued their shabbyy play in the field with four errors, but Krueger kept his poise by scattering five hits and striking out five in a 7-2 victory over the Eagles in Sea View League play.

The win moved the Trojans (6-3) into a first-place tie with Estancia in the eight-team league. It also snapped Estancia’s five-game winning streak.

Estancia stranded 10 runners in the first five innings and failed to capitalize on three Trojan errors in the first four innings. Credit Krueger for keeping his cool.

“I used to get mad, but I’ve found if I get mad at my team, it doesn’t do anybody any good,” Krueger said.

Instead, Krueger concentrated on Estancia batters. He struck out Conrad Colby with two on and two out to end the first inning, struck out Dan Dougherty with two on and two out in the second and struck out Pat Norville with the bases loaded to end the fourth.

Meanwhile, the Trojan hitters managed to capitalize on three Estancia errors in the middle innings to take a 4-0 lead. They sealed the win with three more runs in the sixth.

“We were due for a lousy game,” said Ken Millard, Estancia coach. Casey Simpson, University’s designated hitter, was the game’s offensive star. Simpson, a sophomore making his second start of the season, was 4 for 4, scored two runs and had an RBI.

The Trojans had 14 hits, and at least one in each inning. Shortstop Al Contrera added two hits and scored two runs.

Estancia avoided a shutout when Ed Caron lined a two-run single to right field. But both runs were unearned. That’s the way it is when Krueger is pitching.

In other Sea View League action:

Saddleback 11, Costa Mesa 0--Joey Mendoza allowed only two sixth-inning singles as the Roadrunners improved to 5-3-1 in league, 9-9-1 overall. George Saldana was 2 for 3 with four RBIs and Ismael Guzman was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for Saddleback. Costa Mesa is 2-7, 4-12.

Laguna Beach 13, Woodbridge 7--The Artists put it away early, scoring five in the first inning and four in the second. Tyler Aguinaldo paced Laguna Beach (5-4, 9-6), going 3 for 5 with four RBIs. Coby Naess, who started on the mound and won his sixth game in seven decisions, also was 3 for 4 for the Artists and Danny Lane hit a solo homer in the second inning. The Warriors (3-6, 7-10-2) were led by Mike Sorensen, who was 3 for 3 with two runs scored.

Newport Harbor 8, Corona del Mar 7--The Sailors (5-4, 8-11) scored five runs in the seventh inning to erase a 7-3 Sea King lead at Corona del Mar. Stu Hatch tied the score at 7-7 in the seventh with a bases loaded single, driving in Pat Maynard and Ed Milum. Wes Torell, who homered and was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, singled home Tony Wren with what proved to be the winning run. Robert Hess was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and pitched six strong innings for Corona del Mar (3-5-1, 7-9-1).