Orange County Prep Baseball : August Too Slow for Dana Hills

Lance August’s curveball didn’t break the 55-m.p.h. speed limit. But then again, it didn’t need to.

August struck out six batters and confounded several others as Capistrano Valley defeated Dana Hills, 4-1, Tuesday in a South Coast League game lasting 80 minutes at Capistrano Valley.

“He mixes that curve with a fastball to keep the batters off-balance,” said Bob Zamora, Capistrano Valley coach. “It’s really slow. I don’t think it goes even 50 miles an hour.”

August is 2-0 with two saves in 23 innings. His earned-run average is 1.21.

“It’s my best pitch,” said August, a reliever thrust into the lineup when starter Brian Walker came down with appendicitis Saturday. “I try to keep it down and away most of the time. It’s pretty effective.”

Indeed, the Dolphins (3-3, 7-6) were able to score their only run in the third, when catcher Ron Openshaw hit a high fastball over the center-field fence. Besides that, the Dolphins managed only two hits.

The Cougars (6-0, 11-1) took a 1-0 lead on Tommy Adams’ leadoff home run in the first. Capistrano Valley scored three more runs in the fifth. Second baseman Chris Ashbach’s double drove in two runs. He scored on an error by right fielder Sean Barrett.

El Toro 8, San Clemente 4--Donny Harrell hit a three-run home run and Bobby Gaskins hit a solo homer, leading El Toro (3-3, 9-4) at San Clemente. San Clemente is 0-6 in league.

Irvine 5, Mission Viejo 1--Irvine, which finished with only two hits and was hitless until the sixth inning, combined a double, single, three walks and an error to score four runs in the bottom of the sixth at home. Mission Viejo starter Phil Houston walked nine, taking the loss. Kevin Obergfell (1-2) pitched a four-hitter for Irvine (4-2, 6-6). Mission Viejo is 2-4 in league.

In the Century League:

Canyon 11, Foothill 1--Joe Furukawa went 4 for 4 with three RBIs, and Dan Puskas was 3 for 5, leading Canyon (5-1, 9-2) at home. Foothill is 1-4 in league.

El Modena 8, Santa Ana Valley 3 (8 innings)--El Modena (2-3, 5-7) drew four walks to lead off the top of the eighth and got a two-run single from Jeff Steingraber and a two-run double from John Thompson at Santa Ana Valley. Santa Ana Valley is 2-3 in league.

Santa Ana 7, Villa Park 5 (8 innings)--The Saints (3-3, 8-4) scored the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth on a bases-loaded error at the plate. Villa Park is 3-3, 6-8.

In the Empire League:

Loara 6, Katella 1--Katella gave up four unearned runs, and Dan Rodriguez, Brian Roberts, Scott Wood and Carlos Vargas each had two hits as Loara (2-3, 9-3) won at home. Katella is 1-4 in league.

In the Olympic League:

Whittier Christian 13, Valley Christian 0--Daryl Lancaster pitched a three-hitter and Mike Goodcase drove in six runs, going 3 for 4 with two home runs and a double, as the Heralds (4-0, 8-2) won at home. Valley Christian is 3-1, 10-2.

Orange Lutheran 20, Southern California Christian 0--Ken Hughie was 4 for 5, leading a 19-hit Lancer attack at Brookhurst Park. Orange Lutheran is 3-2, 9-6. The Flames are 1-3 in league.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Trabuco Hills 4, Costa Mesa 1--David Lowery had a single and a solo home run, and Joe Garcia pitched a two-hitter to lead Trabuco Hills (6-0, 8-1-1) at home.

Laguna Hills 5, Orange 4--Laguna Hills jumped to a 5-0 lead and held on as Orange rallied. Chris Sheff was 3 for 3 with two runs and Rob Milo was 2 for 3 with three RBIs for Laguna Hills (3-3, 7-5). Orange is 4-2, 8-4.

Woodbridge 12, Laguna Beach 6--George Allen was 2 for 3 with a triple and five RBIs and Eric Brougher was 3 for 3 with two RBIs to lead Woodbridge (4-2, 5-5) at home. Laguna Beach is 1-5 in league.

In the Sea View League:

Estancia 7, University 3--Danny Dougherty and Dave Westman each had two hits, leading the Eagles (3-3, 3-9). Casey Simpson was 3 for 4 for University (2-3-1).

Saddleback 8, Corona del Mar 3--Paul O’Hearn hit a two-run home run in a three-run first inning and Sean Therien (2-2) threw a three-hitter for Saddleback (4-2, 7-5) at Corona del Mar. The Sea Kings are (2-4, 5-6).

Tustin 11, Newport Harbor 4--The Tillers (6-0, 8-4) scored four runs in the first inning and five in the fourth to win at Newport Harbor. Tustin had 11 hits, and was led by Chris Floth, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

In the Sunset League:

Edison 6, Marina 5 (8 innings)--Jeff Heesch singled in Todd Bosworth, who had doubled, with two outs in the bottom of the eighth, leading Edison (4-2, 10-5) at home. Marina is 1-5 in league.

Ocean View 8, Fountain Valley 4--David Holdridge hit a sixth-inning grand slam, his second in two games and his fifth home run in four games, breaking a 4-4 tie at Ocean View. Holdridge, who also had a double in his 2-for-3 performance, drove in six runs, raising his four-game total to 20. The Seahawks are 5-1, 8-4. Fountain Valley is 1-5 in league.

Westminster 7, Huntington Beach 2--Brian Stubbs was 3 for 4 with a home run and earned a complete game victory, raising his record to 5-1. Westminster (4-1-1, 10-1-1) collected 15 hits. Huntington Beach is 2-3-1, 8-4-1.