Lower Part of Batting Order Steps Up for Eagles

Santa Margarita Coach Tip Lefebvre has faith that all nine batters he sends to the plate can come through when necessary.

His confidence was rewarded Thursday when the bottom of the Eagles’ lineup produced key hits in a 6-3 victory over Arizona’s Canyon del Oro in the third-place game of the National Classic baseball tournament at El Dorado High.

“Most teams have a couple stars that they count on,” Lefebvre said. “We have nine guys in the lineup who can pick us up any time.”

The Eagles (14-4) broke a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the fifth on Andy Hopper’s two-out run-scoring double. Hopper hits sixth.

Reliever Randy Vanderplow (6-0) struggled to protect his 4-3 lead in the sixth, giving up a one-out double to Rick Risner and a single to Ryan Schroyer. On a 3-1 pitch out, pinch-hitter Brian Anderson fouled out to catcher Casey Grzecka, who caught the ball while slamming into the fence behind home plate. Vanderplow then got Blake Peachey to fly to center field to end the inning.

Santa Margarita, ranked fifth in Orange County, added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Matt Van Coutren, the No. 9 batter, hit a one-out home run and Randall Shelley added a two-out RBI double.

“I was really pleased with the way our guys came through today,” Lefebvre said. “We were able to get to their top guy when we needed to.”

The Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Nick Mosich.

Canyon del Oro went ahead, 2-1, in the second inning when Scott Black hit Justin Grosch’s first-pitch fastball over the right-field fence.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Matt Strickroth drew a walk. Then Mike O’Gorman, the No. 8 batter, crushed a curveball over the left-field wall to put the Eagles back on top, 3-2.

Santa Margarita threatened to add to that lead in the bottom of the fourth when Strickroth again walked and moved to third on a single by O’Gorman. Canyon del Oro (17-5), the defending Arizona state champion, brought in ace Schroyer, who struck out Josh Dunlap to end the inning.

Schroyer then added some firepower with a leadoff home run in the fifth to tie the score, 3-3. The Dorados loaded the bases before Vanderplow, on in relief of Grosch, got Chris Duncan to fly out.