STARRING ROLE: Katella's Nick Ramirez, shown during a game earlier this season, pitched a five-hit shutout and struck out nine as the Knights claimed the Empire League title. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
Katella cut above after capturing Empire title
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Baseball roundup: Ramirez shuts out Valencia, 9-0, and No. 3 Mater Dei knocks off No. 1 Orange Lutheran.
Katella buzzed by Valencia on Friday. Katella's coach gets his head buzzed Monday.
Katella coach Jimmy Valverde promised to let the Knights players shave his head if they won the Empire League baseball championship. They did so Friday with a 9-0 league victory at Valencia.
“It will be a double-zero buzz cut,” Valverde said, “or whatever they call it.”
The Knights clinched their first league championship with two games remaining next week against Cypress.
Nick Ramirez, a senior left-hander who has signed with Cal State Fullerton, pitched a shutout, allowing five hits and striking out nine with three walks.
Ben Agredano reached base five times and drove in three runs. Allen Rodarte had two hits and two RBIs.
Katella, ranked eighth in Orange County, is 19-7 overall, 11-2 in league.
Valencia (18-7, 8-5) and No. 9 Cypress (15-10, 8-5 after losing two league games to Loara this week) are three games behind with two league games remaining for all three.
“We don't have the greatest players in the world,” Valverde said, “but we do have a great team.”
That team scored more runs than it needed in the first inning when the Knights put four runs on the scoreboard.
Agredano hit a two-run double in the inning, and Rodarte and junior Matt Judd had RBI singles.
The Knights scored four in the fourth. Judd and junior Kory Latham led off the inning with back-to-back bunt singles.
Rodarte and senior Stephan Kungl delivered RBI singles, one run scored on a passed ball and another scored on a wild pitch.
Agredano's bases-loaded walk in the seventh produced the ninth run.
(Click here for more game stats)
In the Trinity League:
No. 3 Mater Dei 4, No. 1 Orange Lutheran 3: Aaron Northcraft hit a three-run home run for the host Monarchs (19-6, 9-4).
It was the second league loss for the Lancers (20-4, 11-2), who clinched the league championship Wednesday.
In the Garden Grove League:
La Quinta 14, Bolsa Grande 0: Matt McGinley pitched a no-hitter for the host Aztecs (17-7, 12-1). McGinley had a perfect game through five innings.
In the South Coast League:
No. 6 Tesoro 17, Dana Hills 10:Anthony Hutting drove in three runs and Brady Loy and Andre Hinojosa had two RBIs apiece for the host Titans (17-7, 9-4).
In the Sunset League:
Edison 8, Esperanza 4: The Chargers (12-13, 8-5) scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat the Aztecs (13-11, 6-7).
Edison is in second place, one game ahead of third-place Fountain Valley (7-6 in league); Edison and Fountain Valley play each other twice next week. Fourth-place Esperanza plays league champion Los Alamitos twice next week.
In the Alpha League:
Whittier Christian 8, Village Christian of Sun Valley 1: The Heralds (15-9, 7-1) clinched a share of the league championship.
In the Century League:
Brea Olinda 4, Canyon 3: Logan Sewell doubled and scored a run, and Travis McGee pitched a complete game for the visiting Wildcats (10-14, 6-7).
Canyon and El Modena are tied for first place with 9-4 league records. They play each other next week.
In the Freeway League:
La Habra 6, Buena Park 1: Christian Salinas gave up no earned runs in his complete-game victory for the visiting Highlanders (13-8, 10-3), who play league-leading Sonora twice next week.
In the Orange League:
Anaheim 2, Century 1: Anthony Guerrero pitched a complete game for the visiting Colonists (16-9, 10-3).
Guerrero is 6-0 overall, 5-0 in league.
In the Pacific Coast League:
University 9, Beckman 6: Tyler Krobtezky and Thomas Solowynsky had two RBIs each for the visiting Trojans (13-9, 8-2).
University is tied for first place with Laguna Hills, which University plays twice next week.
>> See all scores from Friday's games
Contact the writer: sfryer@ocregister.com
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