Baseball: OV dealt first loss in league
Erasmo Ramirez is a former Major League Baseball pitcher, but nowadays he enjoys coaching teenagers at Segerstrom High.
The Jaguars have never won a Golden West League title in baseball, Ramirez said. In his eighth year at the helm, he wants to get his team there this season.
The team to beat in league is two-time defending champion Ocean View. And, on Friday afternoon at Ocean View High, Segerstrom did just that.
Segerstrom’s Basilio Pacheco hit a tie-breaking two-run triple in the seventh inning as the visitors stunned the Seahawks, 6-3, handing Ocean View its first Golden West League loss of the season.
Errors plagued the Seahawks (8-5, 4-1 in league), who remain in first place. They had six of them in the contest and a few more of the mental variety. They didn’t do Ocean View senior starting pitcher Adam Carles, who pitched into the seventh inning, any favors.
“He pitched effectively, but we can’t make nine errors behind him,” said Ocean View Coach Tanner VanMaanen, adding that defense has been an ongoing issue with his squad. “He pitched good enough to show up and win a ball game, but when his team makes nine errors behind him, we’re going to struggle. But yes, he did keep us in the game, he did compete. It’s not the best I’ve seen him all year, but kudos to him for keeping his head high and battling after guys.”
Two errors came back to back in the infield in the top of the first, helping to load the bases with two outs. Carles (3-1), who took his first loss of the season, managed to get out of the jam by inducing a lineout to left field.
The hosts weren’t as fortunate in the third inning against Segerstrom (9-6, 2-2). With first and second and one out, the center fielder tried to short-hop Cesar Aguilar’s hit, but it went past him. Segerstrom leadoff hitter Kristian Landeros-Sosa scored on the play. The Jaguars added another run on Tyler Lopez’s sacrifice fly.
Ocean View came back in the bottom of the fourth to take a 3-2 lead. Devon Villanueva and James Willams led off the inning with a walk and a single, respectively, before Ricky Martinez sacrificed them over. Chandler Oveson was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Gavin Kennedy then reached on a grounder to short that wasn’t fielded cleanly, plating a run, and another run scored when Joseph Romero grounded into a fielder’s choice. Ronald Evans then provided a pinch-hit RBI double to left, giving Ocean View the 3-2 advantage.
But Segerstrom scored one in the top of the fifth and three more in the seventh. With two on and nobody out, Carles was pulled at pitcher for Kennedy. It seemed like Ocean View could get out of the jam. The next two Segerstrom batters both tried to bunt, but the first bunt led to a force out at third base. On the second bunt, the batter was out because the ball hit him as he ran toward first.
Pacheco, the Segerstrom starting pitcher, made sure the visitors didn’t squander the opportunity, stroking a two-run triple to the fence in right-center. Miguel Sanchez then reached on another infield error, allowing Pacheco to score.
Segerstrom relief pitcher Aguilar, who got the win, gave up a two-out single in the bottom of the frame to Miguel Abascal. But the game ended when Villanueva, a catcher who also threw out two runners stealing, lined out to center.
Ramirez said his team is right in the hunt for the league title. Last year, Segerstrom finished third in league.
“It’s great to get a win like this, to get back in this thing,” Ramirez said. “When we come up big against a quality team like Ocean View, a perennial playoff team, we’re very happy with our boys ... It’s going to be wide open. We’ve got the pitching, we’ve got the team for these guys to try to get that first league championship in our sport. We’re looking forward to a lot of battles.”
Ocean View returns to action Saturday when it plays host to West Torrance at 11 a.m., as part of the Redondo Union tournament. West Torrance is ranked No. 4 in CIF Southern Section Division 3.
The Seahawks then resume Golden West League play at Westminster on Tuesday.
“This thing ain’t over yet,” VanMaanen said. “We’re 4-1 and we’re still in first place. You can’t complain about that ... They know they’re better than [the way they played today].”
Golden West League
Segerstrom 6, Ocean View 3
SCORE BY INNINGS
Seg 002 010 3 - 6 8 1
OV 000 300 0 - 3 4 6
Basilio, Aguilar (6) and Mendez; Carles, Kennedy (7) and Villanueva. W - Aguilar, 3-2. L - Carles, 3-1. 2B - Evans (OV), Kennedy (OV). 3B - Basilio (Seg).
Twitter: @mjszabo
