Mission Viejo relief pitcher Matt Florer performed a couple of magic tricks to escape some trouble spots Wednesday night.
Florer, pitched an inning and 1/3 in relief to guide the Diablos to a 3-1 victory over No. 5 Capistrano Valley in the championship game of the Anaheim Lions Tournament at Glover Stadium.
However, it didn't come without some nervous moments.
Florer struck out Tyler Matzek with runners on first and second in the seventh to end the game and record the save.
"The last time I faced him, he hit two home runs off of me," Florer said. "I was thinking positive and trying to get over that. I was just trying to locate my pitches to try and get him out."
Florer entered the game in the sixth with runners on first and second. The Cougars eventually loaded the bases, before Florer got Greg Ruggles to ground back to the mound.
"I was trying throw strikes, but I just couldn't find my location," Florer said. "After awhile I settled down and hit my spots."
Mission Viejo snapped a 1-1 tie in the fifth with two runs off of Cougar relief pitcher Kevin Chambers.
Wade Kellick (3-1) started the game for the Diablos and pitched five and 2/3 innings to get the victory. He allowed five hits.
Kellick was selected as Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The Mission Viejo pitching staff allowed eight runs in five games, the fewest in the 46-team field.
The Diablos have won six consecutive games, starting with last week's league victory over Tesoro.
"We really competed this week," Florer said.
Matzek started the game for the Cougars. He pitched five innings and recorded nine strikeouts.
The Cougars tied the game at 1-1 in the fifth on Steve McMichael's RBI single.
Mission Viejo scored the first run of the game in the fourth inning.
The Cougars and Diablos both went 4-0 in round robin play.
By DAMIAN CALHOUN