Southern Section Baseball Playoffs : Esperanza, Down 5-0, Beats Servite, 7-5

No. 1-seeded Anaheim Esperanza High School got even for one of its two losses this season by rallying from a 5-0 deficit Friday to defeat Anaheim Servite, 7-5, in nine innings in a Southern Section 4-A quarterfinal game at Servite.

The Aztecs (25-2), defending 4-A champions, scored three runs in the sixth to cut the Friars’ lead to 5-3.

In the seventh, Brent Bish doubled, bringing Tom Redington to the plate. First base was open, but Servite elected to pitch to last year’s 4-A Player of the Year. Redington responded with a home run to center field off Rob Nay, tying the score. It was Redington’s ninth homer of the year and 22nd of his career.

Doug Saunders’ two-run double in the ninth off losing pitcher Andy Croghan gave Esperanza the victory. Saunders was also the winning pitcher.

Servite (21-6-1), which defeated Esperanza in March, 5-3, got a runner to third with none out in the eighth but could not score.

Esperanza will play Arcadia in a semifinal game Tuesday.

Arcadia 7, Huntington Beach Ocean View 6--The Apaches (21-5-1) rallied for two runs with two out in the bottom of the ninth inning to eliminate the Seahawks (20-7) in a 4-A quarterfinal game at Arcadia.

Arcadia’s Chris McCarn walked and took second on an errant pickoff attempt. Charlie Emerson, who was 3 for 4, was then walked intentionally. Dave Weckerle singled home McCarn to tie the score, and Dan Larson followed with asingle to drive in Emerson with the winning run.

Eric Gruben (11-2) scattered 10 hits over nine innings to earn the victory. Mike Fyhrie (11-2) was the loser in relief. Ocean View took a brief 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth when Mike Danduran drove in Mark Brenner with a single.

Lakewood 7, La Puente Bishop Amat 0--Mike McNary threw a three-hitter as visiting Lakewood routed No. 4-seeded Bishop Amat to advance to the 4-A semifinals.

The expected pitching duel between McNary and Bishop Amat pitcher J. R. Phillips, who brought a 13-0 record into the game, didn’t materialize. Phillips struggled with his control from the outset, although he was able to work out of jams in the first three innings.

In the fourth, though, with two on and no out, Lakewood catcher John Baldwin lined a single to left that left fielder Mark Granados misplayed, allowing both runners to score. Baldwin later scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

Phillips, victimized by his defense in the fourth, fell apart in the fifth. With two outs, Matt Nuez singled in a run, then Baldwin tripled to right-center to drive home Nuez. Baldwin scored on a single by Damion Easley to make it 6-0 and knock out Phillips. Lakewood added another run in the seventh.

McNary (10-3), who had a one-hitter against Westminster on Tuesday, struck out eight and walked one. Lakewood plays No. 2-seeded Placentia El Dorado Tuesday.

El Monte Mountain View 5, Laguna Hills 2--Danny Macias’ second home run, a grand slam with two out in the top of the seventh inning, gave the Vikings the victory in the 2-A quarterfinal game at Laguna Hills.

Aaron Arredondo’s two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth gave the Hawks (18-10) a short-lived 2-1 lead.

Sophomore right-hander Armand Perez (5-1) struck out five and walked none in pitching a complete game. Mountain View (16-8) will play La Serna in the semifinals.

Fullerton Troy 14, Alhambra 0--Chris Robinson hit a grand slam and allowed only one hit in five innings as the Warriors routed the Moors, the No. 2-seeded team in the 3-A division, in a quarterfinal game at Troy.

Robinson improved his record to 12-2 as Troy collected 17 hits off three Alhambra pitchers. The Moors had won 16 straight.

Riverside North 5, El Segundo 2--The pitching and hitting of David Ayala led the Huskies (24-5) in a 3-A quarterfinal game at Riverside Sports Center.

Ayala pitched six innings to improve his record to 11-0 and was 3 for 3 with 3 RBIs as North handed El Segundo’s Scott Talanoa his first loss after six wins. El Segundo finished 22-10.

Tehachapi 2, Burbank Providence 1--Chris Olofson’s two-run home run in the first inning was enough to give Tehachapi the victory over defending champion Providence in a Small Schools large-division quarterfinal game at Providence.