Angelenos remain red hot

NORTHEAST GLENDALE — With the way things have been going lately for the Glendale Angelenos, it would be a surprise if they didn't steal a base or hit a home run.

That's precisely the way the Angelenos, a first-year program from the California Collegiate League, like it. A mixture of power and stellar base running have the Angelenos cohesive and red hot.

That proved to be the case Friday night, as Glendale hit three home runs and stole four bases en route to an 8-1 nonleague victory against the Orange County Tides at Stengel Field.

Glendale won its season-high eighth game in a row to improve to 11-7. The Tides, a member of the Orange County Collegiate League, dropped to 2-8.

"We trust them with the bat," said Glendale Coach Tony Riviera, who used six pitchers to limit the Tides to five hits. "They are buying into the concept of looking for a pitch to hit in your zone.

"We are leading our league in stolen bases (88) and home runs (17). That can make a big difference. We just want to keep attacking and take nothing for granted."

Glendale finished with 15 hits, including three apiece from Crescenta Valley High graduate Chad Nacapoy. The Angelenos received one home run apiece from Aaron Brown, Josh Goossen-Brown and Julian Barzilli to turn back the Tides.

The Angelenos took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a run-scoring single by John Schwer that plated Nacapoy, who singled with one out and stole second. After the Tides tied the game at 1 in the fifth, the Angelenos responded with three runs in their half of the fifth.

Brown had a run-scoring single to make it 2-1. A fielder's choice extended the lead to 3-1 before Brown stole home on a double-steal attempt.

"I needed to execute for the team," Brown said. "We were able to get people on and get them in.

"On my hit, I had a 1-2 pitch and I wanted to get something in play and score a run."

Goossen-Brown hit a solo home run to left to lead off the seventh to give the Angelenos a 5-1 lead.

Glendale received a two-run home run from Brown and a solo shot from Barzilli in the eighth to cap the scoring. Barzilli's home run to left made it 6-1 before Brown came through moments later with a line-drive home run to right to extend the advantage to 8-1.

The Angelenos received two hits each from Trent Gilbert, Brown and Schwer. Brown scored a pair of runs.

Glendale pitchers Sean Wardour, Randall Fant, Michael Sherwin, Angel Rodriguez, Nick Plantz and Michael Noteware combined to strike out 10.

Glendale will next face the West Coast Rangers in a home contest at 6:30 p.m. today. It will then meet the San Luis Obispo Blues at 2 p.m. Sunday on the road.