Orange rallies with two runs in seventh inning to defeat Santa Ana in Orange Coast showdown

David Celoski gets ready to throw a pitch against Santa Ana Friday. (Photos: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt)

Orange High School’s baseball team kept its hopes alive of winning the Orange Coast League title rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Santa Ana 5-4 Friday at Orange.

The Panthers (13-9-1, 8-3) battled back from a 4-0 deficit to notch the win and stay tied with Calvary Chapel for first place. Santa Ana (11-13, 7-4) dropped into second place but still has a shot at a share of the title with two weeks left in the regular season.

Santa Ana and Orange came into the game tied with Calvary Chapel for first place.

Orange’s Raul Flores had a bases loaded single over the drawn in outfield with no outs in the seventh to win it for the Panthers, who celebrated on the field with their third straight win over Santa Ana.

“I was looking for a fastball and I got it,”said Flores. “It was amazing, we’ve been through so much, but it’s worth it. it’s worth everything. I knew that was the game winner.”

George Huerta scored the tying run when Jake George was hit by a pitch.

“I can’t say enough about these kids,” said an emotional Orange Coach George Chace. “It’s been a roller coaster of a year. We’re rivals with them, it’s a big game, big atmosphere. It’s what these kids work for, they didn’t give up, they still haven’t given up and they’ve battled uphill all year long.

“Every year, this league is a battle at the top. It’s always a wild finish.”

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Santa Ana moved out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. Emilian Valadez was hit by a pitch leading off, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Julian Gonzalez.

The Saints added three more runs in the second inning, cashing in on three Orange errors to move ahead 4-0. Luis Bruno had an RBI double and Valadez had an RBI single.

But Orange starting pitcher David Celoski, the ace of the staff, settled down after that with 5 2/3 scoreless innings.

“That second inning obviously really tough for me,” said Celoski, now 3-1. “When I went back up on the mound in the third inning, I knew that I had to be strong mentally. If I’m mentally weak, they’re going to hit the balls in the gaps and we’re going to make errors and that all leads to more.

“So I knew I had to be strong for this team and I had to pull through to get this win.”

“He’s a senior, he deserves this,” added Chace. “He’s still maturing and has a little room to grow, but you saw how much he battled and kept us in the game and then finally we were able to win it for him in the end.”

Orange struck for three runs in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 4-3. Robert Chavez had an RBI douible and Matthew Soto and Isaiah Lievanos had RBI singles off Saints starter Joel Duenas.

Josh Delgado came on in relief and worked out of a bases loaded one out situation in the sixth when left fielder Victor De La Cruz made a diving catch of a line drive and doubled off the runner at second.

But the Saints could not hold the Panthers in the seventh.

“That’s why we play the games, we battled throughout the game and we ended up on the short end,” said Santa Ana Coach David Silva. “But it’s a beautiful game, I’m glad my kids competed, they have a very good club.”

Silva said he expects his team to bounce back with four league games left.

Chace, the Orange coach, was pleased to see Flores get the game-winning hit. He started the season as a starter, then moved to a back-up role before returning to the starting lineup.

“Raul Flores has battled through a lot, he’s lost a few family members in the past few months,” Chace said. “He’s hitting like .475. To be able to see him do that is pretty awesome.”

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