Santa Ana tops Estancia 11-9 and forces a log jam at top of Orange Coast standings

Julian Gomez of Santa Ana celebrates after hitting a grand slam Friday against Estancia. Photos: (Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)

Before Friday’s Estancia vs. Santa Ana baseball game, the Orange Coast League standings were all jammed up.

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Santa Ana created more of a log-jam Friday afternoon defeating the previous league leader Estancia 11-9 to create a four-way tie for first place between Santa Ana, Estancia, Calvary Chapel and Orange with one week left in the regular season.

Santa Ana used a third inning grand slam from lead-off hitter Julian Gomez (who was the star quarterback on the football team) and solid pitching in the final three innings by reliever Josue Sanchez who came on for starter Kaleb Jimenez to hang on against Estancia in a wild game at Santa Ana.

“We got two more games to do so we have to take care of business,” said Santa Ana Coach David Silva. “It’s a great victory for us and it does well for the spirits of the team and we’re looking forward to the next two games (Tuesday and Wednesday vs. Orange).”

Santa Ana, although it had three errors, made enough solid plays and got the big hits when it needed to to pull off the victory.

“These kids are special,” Silva said. “Julian Gomez is Mr. everything. He’s a great young man and the sky is the limit for him.”

Santa Ana (13-9) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Garrett Gonzales walked and came home on a two-run home run by Sanchez, much to the delight of a the many Saints fans who came out to support the team.

But Estancia moved ahead 3-2 with three runs in the second inning, cashing in two Santa Ana errors. The Eagles added a run in the third inning on an RBI single by Nick Peralez to move ahead 4-2.

In the bottom of the third inning, Santa Ana exploded for six runs. Bryan Perez and Vincent Tinajero had RBI singles, then Gomez smacked a shot to left field for a grand slam to cap the inning, giving the Saints an 8-4 lead.

“I knew they were coming with some off-speed so I sat back and just let the bat go off my shoulder and it felt nice off the bat, home run, it felt good,” Gomez said. “I’ve never had a grand slam before in my life. I was just trying to make something happen, something explosive happen, I love it.

“This victory is a good start for us staying ahead in our league. Next week is Orange so we’re getting ready for that.”

But after the Saints extended their lead to four runs, Estancia tried to claw back and scored three runs in the fourth, two coming on a triple by Garrett Palme and another on a sacrifice fly by Justin Wood to cut the lead to 8-7.

Silva brought on Sanchez to pitch in the fourth and he was able to restore order.

Santa Ana got a bit of a cushion with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kevin Gomez had an RBI double, Perez drove home one run with a sacrifice fly and another run scored on an error, giving the Saints an 11-7 lead.

Estancia made one last charge with two runs in the sixth inning. Troy Huber had an RBI double and Peralez drove home another run with a sacrifice fly to make it 11-9.

But Sanchez retired the Eagles in order in the seventh, striking out two and helping Santa Ana take the series from Estancia with his second win against the Eagles.

“We swung the bats pretty well today,” said Estancia Coach Kevin Conlin. “I think we played OK, we didn’t pitch very well and didn’t make some big plays but you got to tip your hats: those guys swung the bats really good and they beat us.”

Conlin lodged an official protest in the fifth inning after the base umpire called a balk on Santa Ana, negating an RBI double. Conlin said he wasn’t clear exactly what the rule states.

“I protested the game just to make sure we save ourselves so we will see what the rule is,” Conlin said.

The home plate umpire later said that in high school, when a balk is called, the play is dead automatically. In college, he said the rule is different and the double would have stood.

It is expected that athletic directors from the league will consider the appeal.

Santa Ana wound up out-hitting Estancia 12-11.

Sanchez was 3 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBI, Gomez was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored and Perez was 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.

Palme led Estancia, going 3 for 3 with two runs scored and two RBI. Wood was 2 for with with an RBI and two runs scored for the Eagles.

RELATED: Estancia withdraws protest from Friday

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