Los Alamitos’ baseball team was in the California preseason top 20 going into the 2014 season.
The Griffins were No. 2 in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 preseason poll. They finished last in the Sunset League with a 2-13 record and went 8-17 overall.
With a 4-1 win over Edison on Thursday, the Griffins already have more overall and league wins than they had all of last season. They are 9-5 overall and 3-1 in the Sunset League.
Los Alamitos junior right-hander Scott Andersen pitched six strong innings in the league game at Los Alamitos. Junior righty Kyle Mora pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
Senior shortstop Jake Yarger had two hits, drove in a run and scored twice. Mark Stanford contributed an RBI single.
It was Edison’s first Sunset League loss and second loss overall. The Chargers, 14-2 overall and 4-1 in league, are ranked No. 4 in Orange County and in CIF-SS Division 1, and No. 5 in California.
Los Alamitos coach Matt Nuez said the Griffins’ offseason work “changed the makeup and environment around here, and it’s awesome.”
“The personal investment collaboratively with this group is off the charts,” Nuez said.
Andersen allowed one earned run and four hits while striking out four with no walks. He stayed ahead of the count consistently. Nuez said Andersen is a shining example of that personal investment.
“He’s a young man who’s progressed through work ethic to get where he’s at,” Nuez said. “He really dedicated himself during the summer as did all the guys we have here.”
Los Alamitos took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Michael Townsend led off with a single, advanced to second base on Kyle Rice’s sacrifice bunt and scored on Yarger’s single. Mora singled to move Yarger to second. Edison botched a double-play attempt, allowing Yarger to score to make it 2-0, and Mora scored on Josh Agnew’s infield single for the third run.
Edison’s run came in the second inning when left-handed hitting Charlie Dysome doubled down the left-field line and scored on Leo Hyodo’s single.
The Griffins strung together three singles in the fifth inning to score their fourth run, with Stanford’s base hit sending home Yarger.
Los Alamitos next plays in the Redondo Union Tournament that begins Saturday. Edison’s next game is a league game April 15 at Huntington Beach.
In the Crestview League:
El Modena 4, Canyon 3: Dominic Campeau homered for the visiting Vanguards (7-4, 4-2).
No. 8 El Dorado 3, Esperanza 1: Nick Sprengel struck out nine over five innings for the visiting Golden Hawks (11-3, 6-0).
In the Orange Coast League:
Laguna Beach 16, Godinez 0: The host Breakers (6-4, 5-0) won their 39th consecutive Orange Coast game as Ashton Goddard pitched a two-hitter.
Estancia 4, Saddleback 0: Nick Torres pitched a three-hitter for the home Eagles (4-7, 2-3).
In the Pacific Coast League:
Corona del Mar 5, Northwood 0: Evan Larsen pitched a four-hitter for his fourth shutout of the season and Preston Harstell had two RBI for the host Sea Kings (7-5, 3-2).
Beckman 6, Woodbridge 0: Adam Lamar pitched a complete game for the host, league-leading Patriots (8-4, 4-1).
In the Sunset League:
Fountain Valley 8, Newport Harbor 1: Stephen Fedele doubled and homered for the host Barons (9-6, 2-3).
In nonleague:
No. 10 Cypress 5-1, No. 6 El Toro 3-2: El Toro’s Sam Glick struck out seven over five innings in the second game as the two top 10 teams split a doubleheader at El Toro.
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
