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Fullerton players celebrate after Wednesday’s Freeway League victory. (Photos: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).
Fullerton High School’s baseball team erupted for six runs in the fourth inning to erase a three-run deficit and defeat Sunny Hills 7-4 in a Freeway League game Wednesday at Fullerton.
Fullerton (14-5-1, 3-0) has won four consecutive games and remain the only undefeated team in league play.
Christian Robinson and Wayne Warden each reached base three times and sophomore hurler Cash Coffman came on in relief and shut the Lancers (7-9-2, 1-2) down over the last 3 2/3 innings to spark the Indians who have won seven of their last nine games.
Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, Fullerton sent 12 batters to the plate and the first seven hitters reached base. The Indians pounded out six hits, and took advantage of a base on balls and two batters hit-by-pitches to push across six runs and regain a 7-4 lead.
Robinson led off the inning with a double, Warden then walked and DJ Garcia bunted safely to load the bases. Caleb Brown was then hit-by-a pitch, forcing in a run. Pinch hitter Carlos Barrios followed with a two-run single to tie the score at 4-4.
But the Indians weren’t finished. Zach Fany and Mason Park delivered RBI singles, followed by Robinson’s second hit of the inning, a two-run single to make it 7-4.
“I was just trying to keep it simple,” said Robinson. “Our team keeps fighting and it’s amazing to win a game like this, but we’re proving to ourselves what we are made of.”
“We may have been a little flat when we got down by three, but we picked it up and kept going,” added Warden, who had an RBI single in the first inning to give Fullerton a 1-0 lead. He also scored a run, aside from reaching base three times.
Coffman came on in relief with one out in the fourth inning and two runners on base. He retired 11 of the 14 batters he faced, yielding only one hit and earning his first win of the season.
He ran into a jam in the sixth inning, but struck out Mateo Ramirez with the bases loaded to close out the inning.
“I wasn’t nervous,” said Coffman. “I wanted to focus on throwing strikes and my fastball and curveball were working well. This is a big league win and it pumped us up.”
Fullerton Shaun Hill said it was a great team victory.
“Cash came in and really proved himself by getting out of a jam and I know that gives him a lot of confidence and that’s what he needs; he proved he can get the job done,“ said Hill. “This win is a testament to our team. Everybody stepped up and contributed.”
PJ Mellana gave Sunny Hills a 2-1 lead in the second inning when he blasted a two-run shot over the left field fence. He added a sacrifice fly RBI in the fourth that gave Sunny Hills a 3-1 edge. The Lancers added a second run in the inning and led 4-1, but that was all the Sunny Hills could muster the rest of the way. Mellana also made a spectacular throw from left field to cut down an Indians runner at the plate in the third inning.
“We have to stick to what works for us for us to be successful,” said Lancers Coach Chris Vogt. “Give them credit. They came back to win. We have to learn how to finish games.”
Andre Katayama had two hits, scored two runs and had a stolen base for Sunny Hills.
The two teams will face each other again on Thursday at Sunny Hills after agreeing to move Friday’s game to Thursday to avoid the forecasted rain on Friday.
For best view, click on the photo:
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—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
