Aztecs Finally Break Barons’ Grip

Esperanza ended Fountain Valley’s four-year stranglehold on the Sunset League with an 8-1 victory Thursday at Fountain Valley.

It was the first Sunset baseball title for Esperanza, which moved into the league in 1994. It was the Aztecs’ first league title since 1993, when they took the Empire title.

And it probably secured one of the top four spots in the section Division I playoffs; the pairings will be released Monday.

“It’s nice to finally win a title again,” Esperanza Coach Mike Curran said. “Ever since we came into the league Fountain Valley has had a lock on us.”

Indeed, the Barons had to feel positive about their chances for a fifth straight league championship, and seventh in nine years, after routing Esperanza, 11-1, Tuesday. But Curran, who held a team meeting after the game, said he delivered a simple message--one the Aztecs took to heart.

“I told them today’s game was going to be a street fight, and if they were street fighters they would scratch and claw and do whatever it took to win,” Curran said.

And they did. The Aztecs (21-5, 12-3) collected 12 hits, including two-run homers by John McCollum and Anthony Colacion, off three Baron pitchers. Starter Kameron Nielsen (7-2), who struggled through most of his four innings, took the loss.

“Ever since I was a sophomore they’ve been beating on us,” said Colacion, now a senior. “It makes it even sweeter to come do it on their field after what they did to us on our field Tuesday.”

Esperanza starter Nathan Choate (10-0) wasn’t razor sharp either, walking six with only one strikeout in seven innings.

But Choate gave up only four singles, and Fountain Valley never put two hits together in the same inning. The Barons did not help themselves by hitting into two double plays.

Trailing, 5-0, in the fifth, Fountain Valley (17-9, 11-4) had its best chance to get in the game. With one out, four consecutive Barons reached base, with Tim Crosby scoring Nick Spatafore with a single to right.

Curran came out to the mound with the intention of relieving Choate. But the senior right-hander and catcher David Parrish talked him out of it. Parrish would say after the game, “Nathan as the sense of knowing what pitch to throw at the right time.”

Choate wound up and threw a rising fastball to Baron hitter Chad Gonzalez, who popped up to short. Choate then retired Paul De Vries on a fly out to right.

“We were very undisciplined at the plate today,” Fountain Valley Coach Ron La Ruffa said. “There were other mistakes, like getting trapped off second for a double play [in the first]. That has been our Achilles heel this season, not playing good, fundamental baseball.

“Still, considering all the injuries we had this season, to get to the final game with a chance to win the championship says something about our kids.”

In other Sunset League games:

Edison 3, Marina 2--Grant Grunbaum had two hits and drove in all three runs for Edison (9-16, 4-11). Marina (9-6 in league) finished third.

Huntington Beach 11, Los Alamitos 9--Junior Nate Beucler’s pinch-hit triple in the sixth drove in three runs and gave Huntington Beach (12-14, 6-9) a 7-5 lead. Los Alamitos finished 7-18, 3-12.