Santa Margarita Throws Fountain Valley for Loss

There has been no middle ground this season for Fountain Valley. Either the two-time defending Division I champions look very good or, as in Tuesday’s Pride of the Coast Tournament semifinal game against Santa Margarita, very bad.

The pitching the Barons (13-4) had grown accustomed to during their nine-game winning streak was largely absent against the Eagles, who pounded out three home runs and three doubles in their 8-1 victory at Newport Harbor.

Santa Margarita, which improved to 8-7, moves on to today’s championship game against Lakewood.

“We’re getting to be a good team, but we needed a game like this,” said Eagle Coach Tip Lefebvre, who noted before the game how his team has unexpectedly struggled in the first half of the season.

“We’ve dug such a hole for ourselves in [the Sea View] league [2-5] that we have no mistakes left to make there. To play a game like this against a great program like Fountain Valley is very gratifying.”

As for Fountain Valley, it was one of those days that Coach Ron La Ruffa hasn’t seen often, but always remembers. In their 13 wins this season, the Barons allowed an average of 1.8 runs a game. In the losses, they were bombed for an average of eight runs a game.

“Any highlights?” La Ruffa was asked. “Well, our shortstop played well defensively. And our second [of three] pitchers was good in relief. That’s about it.”

The rest of the highlights belonged to Santa Margarita.

The Eagles got off to a flying start, with four runs in the first off the Barons’ Roger Pechuls (0-1). The key blows were a home run by shortstop Jim Luster, and a two-run double by second baseman Eric Brown. Pechuls lasted a third of an inning before being relieved by Tim Crosby.

Santa Margarita flexed more muscle in the fifth and sixth innings, getting two-run homers from designated hitter Matt Strickroth--his third in three games--and pitcher Craig Harrison.

On the mound Harrison (3-0), who walked three and struck out two in six innings, had to do some bobbing and weaving against the Fountain Valley lineup. But he gave up only three hits and one run. That came in the second, Kevin Burford scoring on a double by Alex Arreola.

On the hit Arreola injured himself sliding into the base and had to leave the game.