Katella completes two-game sweep of league-leading Fullerton with road victory

Katella Knights after Friday’s victory over Fullerton Friday. (PHOTOS: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).

After two lopsided losses last week to Costa Mesa, Katella’s baseball team rebounded impressively and completed a two-game sweep of Empire League-leading Fullerton this week.

On Friday, the visiting Knights defeated the Indians 4-2, the same score they defeated Fullerton on Tuesday. Fullerton (13-6, 5-2) remains in first place in league by a half a game over Costa Mesa. Katella (10-9, 3-3) is one and one-half games behind in third-place. 

“We got right back into the mix by winning these two games this week after getting pounded by Costa Mesa last week,” said Katella Coach Carlos Ayala. “There’s no doubt these two wins will boost our confidence. We don’t have any super stars on this team. We executed and played fundamental baseball.“

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Juan Carlos Navarro (left) and Vincent Aguilera led Katella to a win.

Fullerton and Katella players exchange handshakes.

Caleb Brown gave the Indians a 2-0 lead in the first inning when he clouted a two-run homer. The Knights trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the fourth inning when Juan Carlos Navarro stroked a sole shot over the center field fence, his third home run of the season.

“I felt I hit it well and I knew it was gone when I hit it,” said Navarro, who had two hits in the game. “I think I hit a slider and this win really give us momentum going forward.” 

Katella scored two runs in the sixth inning to go ahead 3-2 and added an insurance run in the seventh inning.

Fullerton made it interesting by bringing the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh but Knights relief pitcher, Vincent Aquilera, got Mason Park to fly out to left to end the game. 

“I’m never nervous when I’m on the mound,” said Aquilera, who earned his first save of the season. “I’m usually a starter but I’m comfortable when I’m out there. The coach came to the mound to talk to me in the last inning just to give me a break, but I’ve been here before. It’s no surprise to me that we won these two games.” 

Gabriel Guerrero had three hits and Isaiah Munoz, who entered the game hitting .425, had two hits for the Knights, who will play league games Laguna Hills twice next week. The Indians will face Bishop Amat in a non-league contest on Monday and then don’t have another league game until they face Costa Mesa on Tuesday, April 21 and Friday, April 24.

“I tip my cap to Katella,” said Fullerton Coach Shaun Hill. “They played nearly perfect baseball. We hit a bump in the road. Our offense didn’t come through with a big hit when we needed it.”