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    El Dorado baseball wins battle with Villa Park in Crestview League
    • March 24, 2023

    El Dorado’s Dane Abbott turns his ankle as he rounds third trying to score against Villa Park in Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Abbott was tagged out. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado’s Isaac Cadena, left, is chased by Villa Park’s Brandon Luu, right, after getting caught in a run down in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. Cadena was tagged out at second base. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado starting pitcher Jack Fishel delivers a pitch against Villa Park in the first inning in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado’s AJ Frausto lays down a bunt for a hit against Villa Park in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado first baseman Brady Abner, right, takes a pick-off throw as Villa Park’s Geoff McArthur gets back safely to the bag at first in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado shortstop AJ Frausto, left, lets out a yell after tagging out Villa Park’s Justin Tims in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado’s shortstop AJ Frausto, left, takes the throw to tag out Villa Park’s Justin Tims at second in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    Villa Park starting pitcher Brandon Luu delivers a pitch against El Dorado in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado’s Brady Abner reaches first as the throw gets by Villa Park pitcher Brandon Luu in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado’s AJ Frausto makes contact against Villa Park in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

    El Dorado outfielder Lucas Raya, right, slides safely into third for a triple against Villa Park in a Crestview League baseball game in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, March 23, 2023. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)

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    SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Even though league play is just getting underway, a victory over one of the county’s top teams is meaningful and could pay dividends later in the season when the playoffs draw closer.

    El Dorado got that victory over an excellent team, defeating Villa Park 3-2 in a Crestview League game Thursday at JSerra High School.

    The game was supposed to be played Wednesday at El Dorado, but was postponed because of the rain.

    El Dorado (8-5, 2-0) couldn’t have its grass field ready in time to play Friday, so the contest was moved to the artificial turf field at JSerra.

    The Spartans (8-2, 1-1), who are ranked No. 3 in Division 1 of the CIF Southern Section and No.1 in Orange County, scored two runs on A.J. Krodel’s two-run double with two outs in the third to give Villa Park a 2-0 lead.

    But the Hawks, who are ranked No. 11 in the county, answered right back with three runs in the bottom of the third to pull ahead.

    Brady Abner and Garvey Rumary both delivered RBI singles in a three-run third, giving El Dorado a one-run lead.

    “One of the things we try and do is answer back and we were able to,” El Dorado coach Matt Lucas said. “We did a good job putting balls in play.”

    Pitcher Nick Sandstedt entered in the fifth for El Dorado, taking over for starter Jack Fishel.

    Sandstedt had five strikeouts and allowed two hits as he kept the Spartans off the scoreboard in his three innings of work, pitching out of trouble in two of those innings.

    In the fifth, the Spartans had runners on second and third with two outs. Lucas intentionally walked Krodel, who had two doubles in his first two at-bats.

    Designated hitter Jake Fuentes worked the count to 3-1 when Sandstedt came back to strike out the senior.

    Big time effort https://t.co/YGUbQYWQar

    — matt lucas (@EDHawksBaseball) March 24, 2023

    “Even with that 3-1 count I had all the confidence in the world in Nick,” Lucas said. “He threw a 3-2 breaking ball to strike the guy out. If we throw a ball there, it’s a tie game.”

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    Villa Park had runners on first and second with two outs in the sixth when Sandstedt retired Jake Fuentes on a ground out to end that threat.

    In the seventh, Sandstedt gave up a two-out single to Krodel, but then struck out Fuentes to end the game.

    “It was a tough lineup,” Sandstedt said. “I knew I couldn’t leave anything over the middle. I really had to work around them. It worked. We got ground balls and the defense made the plays.”

    ​ Orange County Register 

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