Ocean View caps big week in the Golden West League with 12-4 win over Segerstrom

Ocean View baseball players and coaches head to their post-game meeting after Friday’s victory. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Ocean View High School’s baseball team kept rolling through the Golden West League, defeating Segerstrom 12-4 Friday afternoon at Segerstrom.

The league-leading Seahawks (13-6, 4-0) won their second in a row over the Jaguars (9-11, 2-2). Ocean View also capped a three-win week that included a 6-5 non-league victory over Tesoro on Thursday. Ocean View captured the league title in 2019. High school sports were cancelled last spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Like all season, many players contributed to the Seahawks’ victory Friday, including third baseman Mulivai Levu, who was 5 for 5 with three doubles, three RBI and three runs scored.

“That’s kind of been what we’ve done,” said Ocean View Coach Tanner VanMaanen. “Mulivai had an unbelievable day but then it’s some guy another day. Each guy has kind of just contributed up and down our line-up every time. I couldn’t be more proud of them, each guy making adjustments constantly working to get better in the box and getting more comfortable. They’ve totally bought in. Today it was number 11.

“It’s been fun to watch this group. They get along well.”

Starter Ethan Eisen, who pitched the first three innings, was credited with the victory, improving his record to 4-1. Ryan Carles pitched the next three scoreless innings and Kai Marden finished out with a scoreless seventh.

Segerstrom was led by designated hitter Zander Bretza, who was 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI. Kenneth Cabada also had three hits, scored twice and had an RBI for Segerstrom.

Bretza opened the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored on a double by Cabada. James Ashcraft then drove Cabana in with a base hit.

Ocean View countered with three runs in the second inning, Dylan Simonds drove in a run with a groundout and Carles drove in another with a double. The third run came in on an error in the outfield.

Segerstrom tied the game in the bottom of the second when Bretzer drove home Mateo Mendez with a single.

But in the third inning, Ocean View scored four runs to take a 7-3 lead. Levu had an RBI double and James Legg, Simonds and Thomas Williams had RBI singles.

Segerstrom cut the lead to 7-4 with a run in the bottom of the third inning. Cabada singled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mendez but the Jaguars were shutout the rest of the way.

Ocean View capped the day with three more runs in the seventh, two coming on Levu’s double.

Legg also had a big offensive day for Ocean View with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Carles scored twice and had two doubles.

Nic Landeros-Sosa started for Segestrom, pitching into the third inning.

“We have to give Tanner and his club a lot of credit,” said Segerstrom Coach Erasmo Ramirez. “They pitched better, played defense better and they hit better. We’re capable of a lot more. We’ve shown it. We simply didn’t show up this week and Ocean View took advantage of it.

“That’s what good teams do, Our guys have to find a way to consistently match up against good teams like that. We have confidence in our guys. We’re a resilient group, we’ll figure it out.”

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com