SANTA ANA ELKS BASEBALL TOURNAMENT : El Toro’s Rombardo Is a Hit in Cameo Role

SANTA ANA —  Senior Neil Rombardo got only one chance in the Santa Ana Elks tournament, but he made the most of it.

His pinch-hit, two-run single in the fifth inning--his only at-bat in the tournament--broke a 2-2 tie and gave El Toro High School a 4-2 victory over Villa Park in the championship game Wednesday at Rancho Santiago College.

After Rombardo’s single, El Toro (13-5) turned to pitcher Rob Johnson and its defense. The Chargers turned in an impressive play in the field in each of the final three innings.

In the fifth, Dan Strapp lined a ball that seemed sure to reach the gap in left-center, but El Toro’s Reggie Watkins made a diving catch.

In the sixth, Mike Stephens’ line drive was headed to left, but El Toro shortstop Chris Sauritch made a diving catch.

In the seventh, third baseman Scott Sebbo made a bare-hand pickup of a slow roller and threw out Alex Vicario for the second out. Johnson then got pinch-hitter Matt Quint to watch a third strike for the final out.

“We’re getting help from everyone all the way around the yard,” El Toro Coach Dan DeLeon said. “We have some kids that are tuned in with us and doing their jobs.”

Johnson, a junior right-hander, pitched a six-hitter to improve to 4-1.

Villa Park pitcher Todd Blyleven (4-2) was not as fortunate with his defense. He pitched a six-hitter, striking out six, but gave up three unearned runs.

There was nothing tainted about El Toro’s first run, though.

Tim Powers, the No. 2 hitter, drove a ball over the left-field fence in the first inning for a bases-empty home run. It was his first of the season.

The lead increased to 2-0 in the second. Sebbo led off with a walk and scored two outs later when Sal Schachter hit a soft liner to right that fell for a single and got past Villa Park right fielder Mike Stephens for an error.

Villa Park (10-6-1) came back with two runs in the fourth. James Hong walked and scored on a triple to left-center by James Martian.

Aaron Boone singled on the next pitch to score Martian with the tying run. Sean Calahan tried to sacrifice, but El Toro catcher Chad Hoelker came out quickly to field the bunt and threw out Boone at second. Johnson got two ground outs around a single to end the inning.

Johnson then retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced.

“Rob tends to get better as he goes along,” DeLeon said. “He’s just such a great competitor.”

El Toro’s winning rally started with one out in the fifth when Powers reached on a throwing error. The next two batters walked, one intentionally, loading the bases. Sebbo flied to catcher Vicario, who made a diving catch in foul territory for the second out.

Rombardo then pinch-hit for Hoelker, who had struck out twice. Rombardo fouled off the first pitch, took a ball, swung and missed badly at a curveball before hitting another breaking pitch into center field for the game-winning single.

In the third-place game:

Tustin 6, Los Alamitos 3--Sean Green had four hits, scored twice and had three RBIs and Ryan Relph had a two-run single in the fifth inning to lead Tustin at Rancho Santiago. Brian Havens had three hits and two RBIs for Los Alamitos.

In consolation championship:

Santa Ana Valley 2, Gahr 1--Al Ramos had an RBI single and Mike Murtaugh followed with a run-scoring double in the second inning for Santa Ana Valley (8-9) at Tustin. Alex Alvarado (1-0) allowed two hits with five strikeouts in five innings, and Scott Crosby had three strikeouts and allowed an unearned run but got the save.

In consolation games:

Orange 6, Diamond Bar 5 (8 innings)--Junior center fielder Rick Foster hit a two-out home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead Orange (8-8) over Diamond Bar (13-3) at Villa Park. Foster also doubled, singled and had three RBIs and Jesus Romo had two hits and two RBIs. John Martinolich (3-3) got the victory with three innings of relief, allowing one hit and one walk. He struck out three.

Laguna Hills 2, Santa Ana 1--Jeremy Gillen singled home two runs with none out in the bottom of the seventh for Laguna Hills (12-6) at Villa Park. Brian Kessler pitched a four-hitter, striking out two, for the victory.

Saddleback 7, Foothill 5 (8 innings)--Foothill made eight errors at Santa Ana. Foothill’s Kent Donnelly tied the score in the seventh with a two-out, two-run triple. However, the Knights made two errors in the eighth, which led to two unearned runs for Saddleback.