FIRST PITCH: Mission Viejo's Matt Alfaro delivers the pitch to the leadoff batter for Ocean View in the first inning of Friday's game. The Diablos won, 6-0, in the Newport Elks Tournament game. STEVE ZYLIUS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
Burst of power propels Los Alamitos to victory
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Griffins hit three consecutive HRs for first-round victory in Loara Tournament.
Mickey Lorenzini said he once hit a home run in batting practice.
“But I've never seen him do it,” Los Alamitos coach Mark Clabough said.
The junior outfielder's drive over the right-center field fence was just the beginning of a once-in-a-generation phenomenon.
Four pitches after Lorenzini's home run Friday at Los Alamitos, catcher Brian Compton hit a rope over the left-field fence, and Travis Garrett followed with a no-doubter to left-center.
The trio's consecutive fifth-inning home runs broke open what had been a sloppy opening-day game against Woodbridge and sent the Griffins on their way to an 11-7 victory in the first round of the Loara Tournament.
“Didn't see it coming, especially starting with me,” Lorenzini said. “I had my head down rounding first, and I looked up and saw the umpire signaling with his finger.”
Three consecutive home runs in a high school game marked a first for both Clabough and Woodbridge coach Tim Murray.
Los Alamitos, Sunset League champion in 2007, did not even hit back-to-back home runs last season, and the Griffins lost two of their better power bats in Max Sullivan (USC) and Jordan Tripp (Cal State Fullerton).
“We'll hit a few (home runs), but I don't think it will be a big part of our game,” Clabough said.
Murray pulled right-hander Max Iskra for the next batter in the sequence, Kirk Singer, who reached on an infield single to shortstop.
Warriors left-hander James Parr took the loss, giving up six runs — two earned — in three innings. The teams combined for seven errors and eight pitchers, in a 2-hour, 45-minute game.
John Heacock got the victory in relief for Los Alamitos, retiring both batters he faced.
“We played with them. We played with a good team,” Murray said. “I'm not happy with the result, but I'm proud of the way we kept coming.”
JONATHAN KAY/OCVarsity.com
In the Newport Elks Tournament:
Mission Viejo 6, Ocean View 0: Matt Alfaro pitched a shutout for the Diablos (1-0) with five strikeouts and six hits allowed. Vince Gonzalez and Alex Mascarenas each had two hits — a home run and double and an RBI — for Mission Viejo. For Ocean View (0-1), Scott Baxter had two hits, including a double, while Sean Burleson pitched five innings and allowed four runs.
Huntington Beach 3, Mater Dei 2: Sean Guite hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning for the Oilers (1-0) to tie the score. For Mater Dei (0-1), Scott Colton went 2 for 4, and Konnor Armijo had two RBIs.
Magnolia 7, Segerstrom 6: Andrew Diller had three hits, including the winner, and four RBIs for Magnolia (1-0).
Pacifica 6, Beckman 4: Ronnie Shaeffer had three hits, including a two-run homer in the fifth that gave Pacifica (1-0) a 4-3 lead.
Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com
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