LaRue, Santa Margarita Sink El Toro

The Sea View League baseball rivalry between El Toro and Santa Margarita has grown taut over the past several years because games between the teams also seem to be close and decided in the last inning.

Wednesday’s battle at Santa Margarita was true to form. The host Eagles led, 3-0, after the first inning, found themselves trailing 4-3 after the sixth and pulled out a 6-4 victory over the Chargers in the bottom of the seventh.

Santa Margarita shortstop Jeff LaRue almost single-handedly put away the visiting Chargers (10-7, 2-4 in league). He hit a three-run homer off El Toro starter Brian Hughes (2-2) in the bottom of the first, then hit another three-run homer against Hughes in the bottom of the seventh for the game-winner. Santa Margarita is 10-3, 4-2.

LaRue has nine homers this season, tying Edison’s Tony Cappuccilli for the county lead.

“I was seeing the ball well today,” LaRue said. “I’ve been seeing it well all season, so I’ve tried to be aggressive and have fun out there.”

El Toro Coach Tom McCaffrey would have been more upset at the loss if “it hadn’t been a typical El Toro-Santa Margarita game.” Santa Margarita Coach Tip Lefebvre agreed: “We always seem to play that kind of game with each other no matter who has the better team.”

Nonetheless the loss was deflating to El Toro, which rebounded well from its early deficit. Eric Walsh hit a two-run homer off Eagles starter Matt Wilkerson in the fourth, and Walsh and Deven Lightner hit RBI singles off reliever and eventual winner Rob Williams in the sixth.

The teams meet for a third time Friday at El Toro. Earlier this season, El Toro, trailing 5-2 in the seventh, rallied to win, 6-5.

Which is why, McCaffrey said, the Chargers won’t be down long.

“We’ll be ready on Friday, don’t worry,” McCaffrey said. “And they will be too.”

In the Garden Grove League:

No. 4 La Quinta 7, No. 7 Los Amigos 4--Mike Lopez was four for four for La Quinta (15-1, 4-0). Raul Rodriguez, who had three RBIs, hit a two-run homer in the third for Los Amigos (14-2, 4-1).

Pacifica 16, Rancho Alamitos 3 (6 innings, mercy rule)--Jon Dorenbos hit two home runs for visiting Pacifica (5-10, 1-3).

In the Golden West League:

No. 2 Servite 4, Saddleback 0--Brian Wolfe pitched a one-hitter with seven strikeouts for host Servite (13-2, 6-0).

In the South Coast League:

No. 2 Mater Dei 5, San Clemente 3--Mater Dei (11-3, 6-0) scored four runs with two outs in the top of the seventh. Mike Harris hit a bases-loaded, two-run single to tie it, 3-3. On the same play, an errant throw from San Clemente’s catcher went into left field to enable two more runners, including Harris, to score.

Mission Viejo 14, Capistrano Valley 11--John Hudgins hit two home runs, one a grand slam, and he struck out 11 to earn the victory for the Diablos (8-7, 1-5).

In the Sunset League:

No. 5 Esperanza 6, Los Alamitos 5--Nick Gor hit his first home run to break a 5-5 tie in the sixth for host Esperanza (11-5, 4-2).

Marina 7, No. 9 Edison 5--Dustin Bushnell hit a home run for host Marina (6-8, 3-3).

In the Anaheim Lions tournament championship game:

Katella 7, Sunny Hills 3--Tournament MVP Mike Martinez struck out seven and scattered three hits for Katella (14-4) at Glover Stadium. Chris Pasillas and Matt Tisthammer each drove in two runs.