HUNTINGTON BEACH – Marina’s situation appeared almost dire as it prepared to bat in the fifth inning Friday against visiting Edison.
The Vikings trailed by four runs, were hitless against Kaz Akamatsu and their own ace, Riley Ohl, was out of the game.
But for Marina lately, no challenge seems too big.
The Vikings erupted for six runs in the fifth and received three scoreless innings of relief from Matt Clark and Jared Minor to rally past Edison, 6-4, to stay in first place in the Sunset League.
“It shows we have a lot of character,” said junior Eric Anderson, Marina’s No. 9 batter who helped spark the comeback. “We don’t give up. We battle.”
Last Friday, Marina (14-7, 6-3) beat Huntington Beach, 2-1, to complete a three-game sweep of the defending CIF-SS Division 1 champion.
In the fifth, Marina had runners on second and third with one out. Anderson, a lefty, slapped the second offering from Akamatsu (4-5) down the left field line for Marina’s first hit and two RBI that trimmed Edison’s lead to 4-2.
Will Pingle followed with a double to right to drive in Anderson. After Steven Casas drew the Vikings’ second walk of the inning, Pingle tied the score, 4-4, by hustling from second base on a groundout to shortstop. The senior’s slide narrowly beat a low throw from first base.
Marina scored the go-ahead run on an error and took a 6-4 lead on a double by Joseph Waked.
Marina also received a leaping grab by Casas at second base to end a threat by Edison (9-13-1, 5-4) in the sixth.
The Chargers scored four runs against Ohl, including three in the fourth.
The left-handed Hank Skolnick typified the Chargers’ approach against Ohl with a first-pitch, two-run double to left field with two outs for a 4-0 lead.
Edison was hurt in the fifth when it attempted a squeeze with the bases loaded and one out, but Clark (1-0) caught a pop up in front of the mound and jogged to third for the double play.
“The momentum started (to change) with … the squeeze, double play,” Edison coach Cameron Chinn said. “We were just fighting for one more run.”
Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com
