BASEBALL / DOLE-BIG WEST TOURNAMENT : Marina Stays Hot by Beating Troy, 6-2

IRVINE — Marina High took a break from the rigors of the Sunset League baseball race Saturday by opening defense of its Dole-Big West Tournament title with a 6-2 first-round victory over Troy High at Windrow Community Athletic Park.

The Vikings, co-leaders in the Sunset standings, used a three-run fifth inning to pull away from the Warriors.

Marina has a six-game winning streak.

“Troy played a real tough ballgame,” Marina Coach Paul Renfrow said. “It took us some time to get (on track) today, but you have to give credit to their pitcher (Justin Link). He had his speed and location under control for the better part of the ballgame.”

Link helped Troy (5-6-2) maintain a 2-2 tie after four innings, but began to tire in the fifth. That’s when Marina took advantage of the left-hander’s struggles with two hits, two walks, a sacrifice fly and three stolen bases.

Viking leadoff hitter David Titov, selected by tournament officials as Marina’s player of the game, began the inning with a double deep down the left field line. He scored one out later on a passed ball to give Marina (12-2) the lead for good.

Designated hitter Justin Lynch’s sacrifice fly scored Craig Wilson. Mike Tyler’s single drove in Tim Humble for a 5-2 lead.

Troy took a 1-0 lead on Chad Elliott’s two-out homer in the first inning. But the Warriors committed a costly two-out error in the third. Wilson’s run-scoring double and Humble’s RBI single gave Marina a 2-1 lead.

Troy tied the score, 2-2, in the fourth on a single by designated hitter Kevin Norcross.

Marina, which will play Woodbridge Monday, scored its final run in the sixth on Dan Negrete’s sacrifice fly.

Troy will play Monday in the consolation bracket against the University/Woodbridge loser.

In other Dole-Big West games:

Huntington Beach 7, Moreno Valley Canyon Springs 1--Brandon Steele pitched four innings to earn the victory and doubled in two runs for host Huntington Beach (8-7) in the first round. Jeremy Vidales had two hits and three runs scored for the Oilers.

Irvine 5, Capistrano Valley 0--Irvine sent 10 batters to the plate and scored five runs in the first inning, and Ruben Manriquez held Capistrano Valley scoreless for 4 1/3 innings, striking out six before being relieved to earn the win.

La Quinta 9, Ocean View 2--Jhamal Dawkins had three hits, including a double and a triple, scored three runs and had three RBIs and Charlie Tuggle added three hits, a run scored and one RBI for visiting La Quinta (15-2-1).

The Aztecs will play Huntington Beach in the second round at Irvine Windrow Park Monday at 1 p.m.

Marina 6, Troy 2--Bryan Pawley pitched six innings, giving up two runs and striking out six to earn the victory for Marina (12-2). David Titov was two for four with a double and one run scored.

Servite 12, Valencia 6--Greg Shaia was two for four with four RBIs, Brian Greene two for three with two RBIs and Dave Watters three for four with two RBIs for Servite (9-6).