MISSION VIEJO – Dylan Sharon was inches from wriggling his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second inning. The Tesoro right-hander thought he painted the corner with an inning-ending strikeout pitch, but it was called a ball.
Capistrano Valley’s Nick Batesole capitalized, clearing the bases with a double to the wall in right-center field to put the Cougars ahead, 3-0.
The hosts added three more in the third to chase the Titans’ starter and went on to win, 8-2, in a South Coast League game Friday at Capistrano Valley High.
“That was a huge hit, that’s an immediate relief,” Capistrano Valley coach Bob Zamora said of Batesole’s second-inning double. “And then answering back with three more in the next inning really puts your guys at ease. These are all huge games in the South Coast (League).”
The win gives Capistrano Valley (11-8-1, 3-1) sole possession of second place in the South Coast League and puts No.10 Tesoro (14-5, 2-2) in third.
The Cougars got an important start from senior Jarred Zill, even though it only lasted one inning. The righty made his return from injury with a 13-pitch first inning, getting two ground balls, surrendering a double and ending the frame with a swinging strikeout.
Jordan Bocko threw the next six innings for Capistrano Valley, giving up two runs and seven hits and striking out six to earn the victory.
In addition to Batesole’s two-hit, four-RBI day, Capistrano Valley got a pair of hits and three RBI from Shane Timmons. Jake Ortega added two hits and drove in a run for the Cougars.
Trailing, 6-0, Tesoro got two runs back in the top of the fifth. With two outs and the bases loaded, Spencer Heinsius singled to left-center, scoring Brett Auerbach and Zach Huerta. Jake Martini followed with an infield single to load the bases again but Bocko got pinch hitter Spencer Krejci to fly out, ending the threat.
The Cougars made it 8-2 by responding with two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Martini, Auerbach and Jake Loy each had two hits on the day for the Titans.
Sharon took the loss for Tesoro, his first defeat.
“He didn’t have his best stuff today for sure,” Tesoro coach Rick Brail said. “Give Capo credit, they hit his mistakes and they put us on the ropes early, and we were just kind of defensive the whole day.”
Contact the writer: jwilkinson@ocregister.com
