Tars fall back in Sunset

NEWPORT BEACH — A last-inning home run is usually followed by an excited trot with high-fives, hugs and a dogpile at home plate. But after Newport Harbor High’s Steve Guerin hammered a two-out solo shot over the left-center field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning, there was no celebration in his trot. He and his team seemed to know his home run was just too little, too late.

The Sailors went into Friday afternoon’s game, against visiting Fountain Valley, in second place in the Sunset League and climbing, but left the diamond wondering why this one got away. After jumping out on top early, Newport Harbor let its lead slip and eventually lost to the Barons, 6-4.

The Sailors (14-4, 4-3 in league) capitalized on Fountain Valley mistakes in the first two innings, scoring on a wild pitch by Kyle Ball and a throwing error by the Barons shortstop, A.J. Cardenalli. The lead eventually grew to three but as baseball would have it, the Sailors also made costly mistakes that ultimately put the game out of reach for them.

After a rough fourth inning where the Barons (9-8, 2-5) tied the game, 3-3. Blake Davey was hosed at the plate in the bottom of the fifth after being forced into a pickle by a Sailors baserunning miscue down the third-base line. Davey’s out at the plate not only ended the inning prematurely, but it also left two men on base.

A second baserunning miscue came in the bottom of the sixth when Newport Harbor trailed by one run. Richie Lowery rounded third base with every intent on going home after seeing Baron first baseman Damien Jimenez bobble a slow roller. Unfortunately for the aggressive Lowery, Jimenez didn’t bobble it enough and caught the Sailors’ baserunner too far from the bag and hung out to dry. Lowery was tagged out at home and the Sailors left one man on in a late inning for the second time.

“When we had a big situation we didn’t get a hit,” Sailors Coach Patrick Murphy said. “We had second and third and we ran ourselves out of the inning. We didn’t play catch on defense like we normally do. I think we got up 3-0 to a team we had beat a few times and got complacent.”

Newport Harbor beat the Barons Wednesday, 6-5, but could not carry that momentum through the entirety of Friday’s matchup. Maintaining momentum, for the Sailors’ sake, will hopefully not become a common theme. Newport Harbor entered the regular season on a whirlwind pace winning 10 of its first 11 games before league began. This game dropped the Tars to third place in the Sunset League behind Edison (6-1 in league) and Esperanza (5-2) and could be the start of a huge descent.

Or, it can be a wake-up call.

“Today was definitely a gut check,” Murphy said. “I think we are very capable of getting back on the horse. It’s a long season. You play 26 games and you are bound to have a game where you are off but you cannot continue to play games like this if you intend on competing in the playoffs.

A playoff run will have to include more offensive production from the Sailors than they showed against Fountain Valley Friday. Guerin’s late home run was the only extra base hit for Newport Harbor. Davey and Alex Maddox each went one for two with an RBI but that sums up the offensive production for the Sailors as they were shut out for four straight innings against the Barons.

Newport Harbor hopes to wake up it bats and shake this loss off by Wednesday as Esperanza comes to the Sailors’ diamond in another important league game.

Sunset League

Fountain Valley 6, Newport Harbor 4

SCORE BY INNINGS

Ball, Milan (2) and Alvarez; Albert, Gerard (6) and Davey. W – Milan. L – Albert. 2B – Ochoa (FV). HR – Guerin (NH).