Savanna knocks off Katella to stay alive in league race
ANAHEIM – Savanna avoided a series sweep Friday night with a 5-2 victory over Katella at Boysen Park.
The win moved the Rebels (10-10, 6-2) to one game behind the first-place Knights (11-9, 7-1) in the Orange League. A loss would have dropped Savanna three games back with seven to play.
“We were pretty low,” Rebels coach Rick Parmenter said. “(But) the guys came out tonight and responded in a way that really fired me up.”
Joe Rivera (2-2) allowed only two runs on five hits in six innings for the Rebels. The pitcher was aided by a four-run fifth inning that gave Savanna a 5-1 lead.
George Avina was particularly effective at the plate, going 2 for 4 with a triple in the fifth that broke the 1-1 tie and scored two Rebels.
Katella answered with a run in their half of the fifth, but couldn’t muster any more offense the rest of the way.
Savanna’s Andre Cabada retired the side in order in the seventh to get the save.
Coming off an error-filled loss to Katella on Monday and an 8-1 thumping on Wednesday, Rivera said his team understood how important it was to snap the losing streak.
“I think we knew we had to win this one to have a chance at anything,” Rivera said.
His coach agreed.
“If we’re three games back,” Permenter added, “our chances for a league title are over.”
