Oilers claim title

Mike Sciacca

The Huntington Beach High girls’ softball team added an early

highlight to its 2005 resume Saturday by winning the Costa Mesa

Tournament.

The Oilers blanked host Costa Mesa, 3-0, in the tournament final

at TeWinkle Park.

“The girls played a stellar game, both defensively and

offensively,” Huntington coach Dan Hay said. “They did an outstanding

job.”

Karissa Plotnik’s RBI single put Huntington on the board and

Mallory Smith delivered a two-run double to give the Oilers a 3-0

cushion heading into the fifth inning.

Junior Stephanie Newton got the win for Huntington, which had

blanked Oxford Academy, 8-0, earlier in the day in semifinal round

action. Newton also got the win in that game.

Brittnay Hay hit a two-run home run to left field in the first

inning to send Huntington on its way against Oxford Academy. Fiona

Fiaseu tripled and had two RBI, Jenny Driver doubled with two RBI and

Plotnik and Nikki Uranga each drove in a run.

For the tournament, Newton -- who Dan Hay said has “come out of

nowhere” after having had her knee scoped 18 months ago and playing a

limited role on last year’s junior varsity team -- went 4-0 on he

mound. She recorded 19 strikeouts during those four victories.

Brittnay Hay, meanwhile, powered the Oilers offensively during the

tournament with a home run, triple, two doubles and seven RBIs.

Newton and Hay were named to the all-tournament team.

“This program hasn’t enjoyed much success throughout the years,

and now, by earning this title, the girls are getting a taste of what

winning is all about,” said Dan Hay, in his first year as head coach.

“This is a big confidence builder. We have a long way to go still,

but this team is growing with every game.”

In baseball, Huntington and Capistrano Valley played to a 2-2 tie

in the championship game of the Newport Elks Tournament. The game was

called after eight innings.

Hank Conger and Tony Katreeb collected RBI for the Oilers, who had

tied Pacifica, 4-4, in an earlier tournament game halted by darkness.

Huntington reached the tournament final by routing visiting

Valencia of Valencia, 6-0. Cameron McMullen went three for four and

scored three runs, Conger had two hits, drove in a run and scored

another, Katreeb had two hits and drove in a run, Justin Ratowsky had

a hit and drove in a run, and Lucas Aumiller had the other hit for

Huntington.

Justin Latempa held the Vikings to three hits, walking six and

striking out four.

Ocean View posted a 2-1 record during the past week at the Costa

Mesa Tournament. The Seahawks routed St. Bernard, 20-3, lost to

defending Division IV champion Corona del Mar, 5-0, and shut out

Santa Ana Valley, 11-0.

Against St. Bernard, Ocean View senior first baseman Matt Hughes

doubled three times in three plate appearances, senior right fielder

John Vega went three for four with a double and four RBI and junior

shortstop-pitcher James Kang recorded his first win.

Corona del Mar’s ability to bring home runners in scoring position

-- something Ocean View could not do -- keyed the Sea Kings’ 5-0 win.

Senior Alex Burnett threw a solid seven innings for the Seahawks

and recorded 12 strikeouts, walking two and yielding three hits.

In an effort that Coach Aaron Kavanagh said was just a matter of

“taking care of business at the plate,” Ocean View ripped Santa Ana

Valley, 11-0.

Senior Jeff Roth tripled among his three hits, had three RBI and

scored twice. Roth also threw four innings and recorded four

strikeouts for his second win of the year.

Senior third baseman Marc Fernandez doubled among his two hits,

scored twice and picked up an RBI for the Seahawks.

At the Loara Tournament, Marina outlasted Artesia, 14-11, in

consolation round play.

Chris Torres hit a home run, Nick Plantz and Brett Lacy each

doubled twice and Patrick Murray and Jimmy Cooper each doubled for

the Vikings. Plantz and Lacy led Marina with two RBIs each.

In boys’ volleyball, Huntington won its fourth consecutive match

to start the season by downing host Dana Hills, 22-25, 25-15, 25-12,

25-18. Trey Valbuena had 18 kills for the Oilers.