Ocean View turns energy into victory

Orange's Arturo Ponce stops a ground ball from getting out of the infield during a game against Ocean View on Friday.
Orange's Salvador Delgadillo pulls in a pop fly during Friday's game against Ocean View. Teammate James Endersby is at right.
Ocean View's Joseph Romero puts the tag on Orange's Salvador Delgadillo during a game Friday.
Ocean View's Joseph Romero isn't able to pick up a slow, rolling ground ball during a game against Orange on Friday.
Ocean View's Joseph Romero tries to pick up a slow, rolling ground ball during Friday's game against Orange.
Ocean View's Adam Meyer is called safe at third base avoiding the tag by Orange's Arturo Ponce during Friday's game.
Orange's Arturo Ponce holds his glove up for the umpire to see after trying to tag out Ocean View's Adam Meyer on a play at third base Friday. Meyer was called safe on the play.
Ocean View's Adam Meyer avoids the tag by Orange's Arturo Ponce to slide safely into third base on Friday.
Ocean View's Joseph Romero celebrates after scoring a run against Orange in a Golden West League game Friday.
Ocean View's Devon Villanueva celebrates after crossing the plate during Friday's game against Orange.
Orange's Arturo Ponce dives while trying to field a sharp ground ball against Ocean View on Friday.
Ocean View's Daniel Myer is helped off the field by teammates after he apparently injured his hamstring while running the bases Friday.
Ocean View's Daniel Myer tries to get up after suffering a leg injury running to third base during a game against Orange on Friday.
Ocean View's Brian Scholsser smiles after crossing the plate during a game against Orange on Friday.
Ocean View's Brandon Nicholson delivers a pitch against Orange during Friday's game.
Orange's Salvador Delgadillo scoops up a grounder during a game against Ocean View on Friday.
Ocean View's Devon Villanueva pops up after sliding safely into second base during Friday's game against Orange.
Ocean View coach Tanner VanMaanen disagrees with an umpire's call during Friday's game.

April 8, 2016 at 9:20 p.m.

HUNTINGTON BEACH – The conditions were seemingly perfect for two small-ball teams, Ocean View and Orange, but only one was able to execute on a cold, misty Friday afternoon at Ocean View High.

Ocean View worked the bases and ran aggressively in a 9-1 victory to stay undefeated in Golden West League play.

“I thought we did a good job coming out with a lot more energy,” Ocean View coach Trevor VanMaanen said. “Our guys stepped up and played the game with way it’s supposed to be played.”

Orange (9-8, 3-2) scored first with Salvador Delgadillo sprinting home on an Ethan Helm sacrifice fly in the second.

That was the end of the Panthers’ success against Seahawks starter Brandon Nicholson, who went six innings, allowed three hits and had five strikeouts.

“He threw a decent slider and got our guys off balance,” Orange coach Dennis Gerbasi said. “We stopped looking for the fastball and started looking for the off-speed. It got us that one millisecond behind.”

Ocean View (6-6, 5-0) took the lead with a four-run third.

The Seahawks hit six singles in the inning, including bunt singles by Joseph Romero and Grant Rock on a squeeze play.

“We talked about staying loose and staying focused on what we do best,” VanMaanen said. “When we do that, we put up big numbers or crooked numbers on the board like that.”

Brandon Salzman, Devin Lacy, Miguel Abascal and Rock each picked up an RBI in the inning.

Salzman got another RBI on a double in the fourth and scored on a single by Daniel Myer.

Ocean View scored three more runs in the fifth for the 9-1 lead as Romero, Derek Chumacero and Brian Schlosser added their names to the RBI list.

After starting the season 1-5, Ocean View has turned things around by going 5-0 in league.

“It paid off for us,” VanMaanen said of a tough nonleague schedule. “We were ready to come into league. We were prepared for games like this. In situations like this, when something’s on the line, we’ve been there.”

Ocean View opened the season with two games against No. 5 Cypress and played Corona del Mar and Redondo Union, ranked fourth and first in CIF-SS Division 3, respectively.