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Fountain Valley baseball escapes with league win over Corona del Mar

March 26, 2026

NEWPORT BEACH — Fountain Valley’s pitchers weren’t flawless, but they retired hitters in key situations as the Barons defeated Corona del Mar, 3-2, in a Sunset League game Wednesday at Corona del Mar High School.

Conversely, the Sea Kings couldn’t come through with enough clutch hits, despite outhitting the Barons 11-3.

The Barons’ pitchers have allowed two runs or less over the past five games, including a 1-0 shutout of the Sea Kings (1-3, 6-5) in the first game of the teams’ three-game series Tuesday at Fountain Valley.

Fountain Valley (7-2, 2-2), which is No. 14 in the Orange County rankings, can sweep the series with a victory over the No. 21 Sea Kings on Friday at Fountain Valley.

“I just had to come in and throw strikes and do my job,” said Barons starter Nixon Hunt, who earned the victory as he allowed five hits and no runs over 4 1/3 innings. “So, I just tried to get grounders and let my defense do their job. Usually, I’m trying to overwhelm them and strike everybody out.”

Hunt did get help from the Barons’ defense, especially in the bottom of the fourth inning.

J.J. Hailey hit a two-out double for the Sea Kings and tried to score from second when the next batter, Max Brengel, singled to left.

But left fielder Octavio Gomez made a perfect throw to catcher Ethan Cortez, who put the tag on Hailey for the final out of the inning.

Isaac Lomelli and Ivan Tellez hit back-to-back singles to lead off the fifth for the Barons. Both runners scored on throwing errors on consecutive plays to give the Barons a 2-0 lead.

Hunt, who reached on an error and stole second, scored from third later in the inning on a squeeze bunt by Luke Scuncio.

After Hunt gave up two one-out singles, Noah McGee came into pitch for the Barons and gave up a hit that loaded the bases. McGee then got out of the jam but striking out the next two hitters.

In the sixth, Corona del Mar’s Brady Zenz drove in a run with a sacrifice fly and Will Chavez followed with an RBI double to make the score 3-2.

But the Barons got the final out on a base running error by the Sea Kings.

“We were fortunate,” Fountain Valley coach Gerardo Gonzalez said. “They made a base running error at the end there that kind of helped us a little bit.”

The Sea Kings had another opportunity to score in the seventh with runners on first and second with one out. But D’ Angelo Diaz, who came in to pitch for the Barons in the final inning, retired to the next two hitters to secure the victory.

“Traditionally, they play us tough,” Gonzalez said of Corona del Mar. “And we enjoy that because that is what competition is all about.”

Orange County Register

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Fountain Valley baseball escapes with league win over Corona del Mar

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