Sea View League Baseball : Saddleback Hangs On After a Fast Start, 6-4

Bob Mangram, Saddleback High School’s baseball coach, knew that the key to Wednesday’s Sea View League game with Estancia would be to get to left-hander Conrad Colby early.

The Roadrunners did just that, scoring five runs in the first inning, but they had to hold off a late rally by Estancia en route to a 6-4 victory at Saddleback.

“Our team knew the longer he pitches, the better he gets, but I told our kids to go up to the plate and just look for your pitch,” Mangram said.

The victory improves the first-place Roadrunners to 10-4 overall, 4-0 in league play. Estancia is 9-5, 2-2.

Colby (3-2) faced 10 hitters and gave up 5 runs and 6 hits in the first inning, with the big blow a two-run single between shortstop and third base by center fielder Frank Larriva that scored George Saldana and Neil Carter for a 4-1 lead. The next batter, Chris Silva, singled to left to score Larriva from second, who advanced on a wild pitch by Colby.

Saddleback scored one more run in the fourth for a 6-1 lead and then had to hold off Estancia.

The Eagles scored three runs in the fifth off winning pitcher Mike Arroyos (4-0), including a two-run double by Frank Herman that scored Dan Dougherty and Mike Lewis.

Senior right-hander Paul O’Hearn, who came on after Arroyos faced one batter in the sixth, gave up three hits in two innings but earned the save.

Corona del Mar 6, Newport Harbor 2--Greg Haack had two hits, including a bases-loaded double for three RBIs, to lead host Corona del Mar (4-5, 2-2). Haack’s double broke a 2-2 tie as Corona del Mar scored six runs in the fifth inning. Gary Sussman (2-1) pitched a six-hitter. Kevin Maas had two doubles for Corona del Mar.

Tustin 4, University 3 (11 innings)--David Sagan hit a one-out single with the bases loaded to score Scott Ralph and give Tustin (9-5, 3-1) the victory.