Baseball: Sailors get overpowered

Tony Altobelli

LAGUNA HILLS - Following Newport Harbor High’s 15-6 St. Patrick’s

Day Sea View League baseball loss to host Laguna Hills, the only thing

green was Sailors’ Coach Jim Kiefer.

“There was no Irish luck today for us,” Kiefer said. “Laguna Hills had it

all.”

Luck and a healthy helping of offense sparked the Hawks, leaving Kiefer

with a simple explanation of the loss.

“We fell behind way too many hitters,” Kiefer said. “We don’t have any

guys that can throw 94 mph, so without that kind of stuff, getting ahead

of the batters is crucial. We didn’t do that today.”

After jumping out to a 5-1 lead in the top of the third inning, Newport

(1-5, 0-2 in league) saw it disappear rapidly. Laguna Hills scored 6 runs

in the bottom of the third, four in the fourth and four in the fifth to

blow the game open.

Newport took advantage of some control problems by the Hawks’ starting

pitcher, turning two walks, two hit batsmen, an error and two hits into

five third-inning runs.

Junior catcher Garrett Brant drove in two runs with a sharp hit that

bounced off the Hawks’ shortstop and found it way into left field.

But the lead was short-lived as the Hawks answered back.

The biggest blow of the day came in the bottom of the third off the bat

of Joe Viglione.

After falling behind, 1-2 on the count with the bases loaded and his team

trailing, 5-2, Viglione sent a shot to left-center field, clearing the

wall and giving the Hawks (3-4, 2-0) the lead for good.

Viglione’s blast was one of five home runs hit by the Hawks in the game.

In fact the Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a solo blast by leadoff

hitter Justin Hallenbech, who clubbed a second dinger in the fourth.

Newport had runners on base for most of the day, thanks to five walks and

three hit batters, but costly mistakes on the baseline, combined with

three Hawks’ double plays, put the fire on a number of rallies.

“We made to many mistakes on the baselines,” Kiefer said. “Those are

things you can’t do if you’re trying to win a game.”

Miguel Sandoval hit a solo home run and scored twice to lead the Sailors’

offense. Donovan Wong and Scott Beerer had the other two of the Sailors’

four hits.

Every spot in the Hawks’ lineup managed to score, including Hallenbach,

who scored four times from the leadoff spot.

Viglione scored twice and drove in five with a grand slam and

fourth-inning double to right field.

Chris Turner also helped the Hawks’ offense, going 3 for 4 with two RBIs

and two runs scored.

With the game still relatively close at 11-6, Newport’s defense took a

vacation, allowing four unearned runs to score, putting the game out of

reach.

The Tars will try to regroup when they host Woodbridge Tuesday at 3:15

p.m.

SEA VIEW LEAGUE

Laguna Hills 15, Newport Harbor 6

Newport Harbor 005 100 0 - 6 4 3 Laguna Hills 106 440 x - 15 14 1

McCarthy, Rorden (3), Sandoval (4), Ward (6) and Brant; Miltenberger,

Abernathy (3), Anderson (5) and Rochon. W - Abernathy. L - Rorden, 1-1.

2B - Vigilone (LH), Miltenberger (LH). HR - Sandoval (NH), Hollenbech

(LH) 2, Anderson (LH), Vigilone (LH), Johnson (LH).