Edison’s Victory Is a Wild One

There are certain things you can expect when Sunset League teams get together for a friendly game of baseball.

The games are usually close, hard-fought and well-played--the kind that have helped make this one of Southern California’s most competitive and respected baseball leagues.

That’s why those who watched Edison High School’s 6-3 victory over Marina Friday had to wonder whether this was the season opener and not the league opener.

This was hardly the stuff of which great reputations are made.

It was close, for the most part. And it was certainly hard-fought.

But it wasn’t well-played.

The teams combined for eight errors on the Vikings’ field. There were 12 walks and an assortment of passed balls, wild pitches and hit batsmen.

The Vikings (6-3) were more charitable than the Chargers (6-1). Marina committed five errors, and starting pitcher Dan Jensen walked eight.

Jensen, a senior right-hander, was on the wild side but took a two-hitter into the sixth inning of a 3-3 game. He ran into trouble with a one-out walk to Mike Guccione, who advanced to second on a passed ball and to third on Terrance Tewell’s single.

Chris Powell then chopped a grounder to third baseman Kevin Dolan, whose throw to the plate to get Guccione was low and slipped past catcher Matt Hattabaugh.

An intentional walk to pinch-hitter Jeff Nowak loaded the bases, but Jensen got ahead of No. 3 hitter Greg DeBenon, 1-2, on the count. Charger Coach Ron LaRuffa then surprised the Vikings by calling a suicide squeeze, and DeBenon dropped a successful bunt down the third-base side.

Tewell scored and the speedy Powell scored from second on Dolan’s throw to first, which got DeBenon.

Edison left-hander Tom Thobe went the distance on a five-hitter and struck out 10. Thobe (3-0) got off to a shaky start, walking three and allowing three runs and three hits in the first three innings, but he settled down to retire 12 of the final 15 batters.