Strong pitching effort helps Villa Park notch key Crestview League win over Foothill

Villa Park players look on before Friday’s Crestview League game. (PHOTOS: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).

Villa Park High School starting pitcher Jake Nobles made a successful return to the mound as he allowed only two runs over four innings and the Spartans pounded out 15 hits in an 11-2 Crestview League baseball victory over Foothill Friday afternoon at Foothill.

Nobles, who earned his fifth victory of the season, made his first start since returning from a bicep injury a month ago. He allowed two hits and struck out two as Villa Park notched its eighth consecutive victory.

“It feels great to get back on the mound after my injury,” said Nobles, who also doubled, had an RBI and scored a run in the game. His velocity was consistently in the upper 80s. “I stayed loose, and my fastball was working, and I stayed with it even when I got behind in the count. I knew if I threw strikes my defense would have my back.”  

The Spartans (21-5, 7-3) are tied with Cypress for first place in league and have an opportunity to a share of the title if they can beat El Dorado twice next week.

Cypress plays two games next week against El Modena.

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Foothill (16-11, 5-7) has lost six of their last seven games. The Knights finish the regular season schedule with a non-league game against Dana Hills on Monday. The Knights are currently in fourth place in league and still have hopes of making the playoffs.

Shawn Romero and Ezra Ornelas gave Villa Park a big boost offensively as the pair combined to go seven for eight, scored four runs and had four RBI.

“They were working me inside, so I made adjustments and I’m seeing the ball very well right now,” said Romero, who was on base five times. “We’re getting on a roll, and we’ve are getting good at bats and playing well as a team.”

Villa Park jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Romero stroked an RBI single to center, Robles knocked in a run on an infield ground out and Ornelas blasted an RBI single to right to give the Spartans the early lead.

“I feel like I have a good approach at each at bat,” said Ornelas, a junior. “They didn’t throw me any fastballs in the three games against them and I’m seeing the spin on the ball.”

Val Lopez doubled Romero home in the second inning as Villa Park upped its lead to 5-0.

In the third inning, Nobles smashed a one-out double and Ornelas followed with an RBI single. After Austin Park walked, Aidan Young drove both runners’ home with a two-run single making it 8-0.

The Knights got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Aidan Colburn doubled in two runs with a hard shot down the third base line. However, Foothill missed a golden opportunity to capitalize further when Nobles retired Evrett Rycroft on a fly out to left for the final out, leaving the bases loaded.

The Spartans added a run in the fourth and Gunner Santillo’s RBI infield hit in the fifth increased Villa Park’s lead to 10-2. Romero’s RBI single in the seventh closed out the Spartans scoring. 

Cade Cowie pitched the final three innings for Villa Park and gave up only one hit.

Spartans Coach Burt Call was extremely pleased with his team’s performance.

“We scored early runs today and when you do that you give your team more confidence,” said Call. “We had a good week. Today Jake was throwing strikes and Shawn and Erza had good at bats and had clutch hitting.”

Despite the loss, Foothill coach Chris Price remained upbeat.

“All season long we have pitched and played good defense, but today we failed and that was the difference,” said Price. “Give credit to Villa Park, they are a much-improved team, and they are a very good team. We had some good at bats today and hit the ball hard several times. Our team hasn’t given up. We’re still battling.”   

Notes:

—Villa Park scored runs in six of seven innings, scored 11 runs, and still left 12 runners on base.

— Foothill celebrated Mother’s Day for the moms of the players. A brief ceremony was held following the game paying tributes to the players mothers.