Roundup: Fountain Valley extends hot streak

Dana Hills' Jay Schuyler is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after he scored during a nonleague game against San Clemente on Wednesday at Saddleback College.
Dana Hills' Luke Williams, right, steals second base during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
Dana Hills' Marrick Crouse dives back to first base on a pick-off play during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
Dana Hills' Reid Lundeen scores after a teammate drew a bases-loaded walk during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
San Clemente's Chris Puckett, foreground, tosses the ball to the catcher to force out Dana Hills' Marrick Crouse on a suicide squeeze bunt during a nonleague game at Saddleback College on Wednesday. Dana Hills won both games of the doubleheader, 2-1 and 5-4.
Dana Hills' Jay Schuyler, left, dives back to second base on a pick-off play during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday. Dana Hills won both games of the doubleheader, 2-1 and 5-4.
San Clemente catcher Lucas Herbert, left, tags out Dana Hills' Marrick Crouse at the plate during a nonleague game at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
Dana Hills' Marrick Crouse delivers a pitch during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
Dana Hills' Marrick Crouse delivers a pitch during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday. Dana Hills won the first game of the doubleheader, 2-1.
San Clemente's Chris Puckett throws a pitch during a nonleague game against Dana Hills at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
San Clemente's Trevor Beard connects for a hit during a nonleague game against Dana Hills' at Saddleback College on Wednesday. Dana Hills won both games of the doubleheader, 2-1 and 5-4.
San Clemente's Connor Sealey, right, shows his disappointment over a call made by an umpire at second base during a nonleague game against Dana Hills at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
San Clemente's Lucas Herbert follows through with his swing after making contact during a nonleague game against Dana Hills at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
Dana Hills catcher David Clawson tries to catch a pitch during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday.
Dana Hills' Marrick Crouse delivers a pitch during a nonleague game against San Clemente at Saddleback College on Wednesday.

By Andrew Turner | Orange County Register

April 22, 2015 at 9:28 p.m.

Good pitching and timely hitting win a lot of baseball games.

Fountain Valley has been receiving both lately.

Stephen Fedele crushed a pinch-hit triple to drive in three runs in the sixth innings, and the Barons captured a Sunset League victory over fifth-ranked Edison, 6-1, Wednesday at Edison High.

The Barons (16-7, 5-3) moved ahead of the Chargers (14-5, 4-4) for sole possession of third place in the Sunset League.

Fountain Valley faced an uphill battle after dropping its first two league games, but it has rallied behind its strong pitching to win its last six contests, including four league games.

The Barons have allowed just 10 runs during its winning streak.

“Our pitching has been carrying us,” Fedele said. “We’re figuring it out with the bats, but our pitching has been leading the way.”

On Wednesday, the Barons’ Willie Aguilar (3-1) and JT Navarro combined on the mound to allow just seven hits. They struck out seven.

The Barons struck with four singles in the first. Justin Cobb’s ground ball on the left side of the infield scored Navarro from third. Pierson Loska followed with a liner up the middle to drive in a second run.

Edison starter Kaz Akamatsu (5-1) kept the Barons’ bats quiet over the next four innings. He allowed just two hits during that span while striking out four.

But with one out in the sixth, Akamatsu walked two before exiting the game. Nate Madden replaced him, and Michael Murphy singled before Fedele broke the game open.

“We’re fortunate and deep enough where we can play matchups,” Barons coach Deric Yanagisawa said. “Stephen is just part of the puzzle. He came up with a huge hit to break this thing open for us, and you need that if you want to compete in this league.

“You have to have some timely hitting.”

Nick Mailman had two hits and a walk for Edison. Freshman Connor Aoki registered the first hit of his career in the seventh.

Also in the Sunset League:

No. 3 Huntington Beach 7, Los Alamitos 2: Hagen Danner struck out eight in a complete-game performance, and Cooper Moore and Landon Silver each had two hits for the Oilers (14-7, 6-1).

In nonleague games:

No. 4 Dana Hills 2-5, No. 2 San Clemente 1-4: Marrick Crouse pitched a six-hitter with six strikeouts as the Dolphins (21-4) took the opening game of the doubleheader at Saddleback College.

In the second game, the Dolphins scored the tiebreaking run on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh. The Tritons have lost four of their past six games, each of them by one run.

In the Sea View League:

Mission Viejo 4, San Juan Hills 1: Senior left-hander Patrick Sandoval (6-2) pitched a complete game and struck out 11 for the Diablos (17-7, 5-0).

In the South Coast League:

No. 7 Aliso Niguel 4, Tesoro 2: Kyle Molnar hit a three-run home run and pitched a complete game for the Wolverines.

Capistrano Valley 12, No. 9 El Toro 2: Ryan Hinojosa had three hits, including a home run, and four RBI for the Cougars (9-12-1, 4-1).

In the Empire League:

Cypress 7, Tustin 0: Jeff Lim went 3 for 3 with three RBI, and Sean Hughes added two RBI for the Centurions (13-8, 3-0).

In the Trinity League:

Santa Margarita 2, Mater Dei 1 (9 innings): Johnny Carr had the winning RBI for the Eagles.

No. 1 JSerra 4, Orange Lutheran 0: Collin Quinn pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts, and Royce Lewis went 2 for 3 with one RBI for the Lions (16-3, 3-2). The Lions and Lancers (15-5, 3-2) play Friday at JSerra at 6 p.m.