Ocean View showed little mercy to Saddleback Friday and in the process, moved a step closer to yet another Golden West League baseball championship.
The Seahawks pummeled four Roadrunner pitchers for 23 hits that led to an onslaught of runs and a 22-3 victory in a game shortened by the mercy rule after five innings.
Sean Burleson pitched all five frames for the Seahawks and scattered five hits to go along with seven strikeouts without a walk.
Burleson also was outstanding at the plate going four for five in a performance that featured two doubles and a home run that led to five RBIs.
Scott Baxter went three for three with a pair of doubles and Kevin Nance also went three for three with two doubles and four RBIs to lead several Seahawks with multiple hits.
“It was nice to get our bats rolling,” Ocean View Coach Shane Borowski said. “Everyone was getting involved, everyone was contributing. Hitting is contagious and today we all caught the bug.
“This is the time of year when you want to catch fire, and I hope this game was the spark that lights the rest of the season for us.”
Needing a win to stay within striking range of first place in the Sunset League, Edison fell further back of league-leading Los Alamitos after suffering a 2-1 defeat to the visiting Griffins. Los Al got the win on a solo home run by senior Eric Robbins in the top of the seventh inning.
Juniors Ryan Little and Ryan Miller each hit doubles in the fourth inning that led to Edison’s lone run.
Chris Czerniachowski doubled in the sixth for the Chargers who play at 3 p.m. Friday at Esperanza.
Marina led from start to finish against Esperanza but had to hold off a late rally by the host Aztecs to record an 11-7 win in another Sunset League clash.
Senior Ryan Donohue hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh to push Marina’s lead to 11-2.
Esperanza rallied for five runs in the bottom of the seventh before closer Jordan Maddox closed the door on the Aztecs to give Marina its first win in the three-game season series between the teams.
Chad Lewis, Slater Davies and Robby Herron all doubled for the Vikings, who play at 3:15 p.m. Friday at Fountain Valley.
After posting two easy wins over Northwood in previous Sea View League play this year, Huntington Beach was on the short end of a 9-2 score to the host Timberwolves.
Randy Guite doubled for Huntington which managed just three hits.
The Oilers trailed just 3-2 through two innings but were outscored 6-0 in the final five innings.
