PHOTOS: Beckman finishes PCL series sweep of Woodbridge to remain tied for first place

Beckman starter Carter Head fires a pitch in Friday’s PCL game with Woodbridge. (Photo courtesy Rosalene Ledendecker)

Beckman High School sophomore right-hander Carter Head pitched six strong innings and the Patriots won for the eighth consecutive time defeating Woodbridge 7-1 in a Pacific Coast League baseball game Friday afternoon at Beckman.

The Patriots (18-5-1, 14-3-1) swept the three-game series from the Warriors (14-10, 10-8) this week and remained tied with Northwood for the top spot in league with one week left in the regular season.

The Timberwolves defeated Sage Hill on Friday 7-2.

Beckman will play Irvine three times next week in the final regular season series while the Timberwolves are paired against Portola. Woodbridge, which won the last two PCL titles, currently is in third-place, will play University three times.

Northwood defeated Beckman twice and tied the Patriots once this season.  

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Head gave up one unearned run, three hits and struck out five. He walked only two batters and was in control throughout the game. Kevin Patel pitched the seventh inning for the Patriots to close out the game.

“I felt confident and I was getting all of my pitches over,” said Head. “We’re on a roll and we’re playing very well. I think it has to do with all of the extra hard work the guys have been putting in.”

Leading 1-0, the Patriots sent 11 batters to the plate and exploded for six runs in the third inning to take control.

Alex Dorantes led off the third inning with a base hit to center. Ken Tomitaka bunted for a single and then Zach Ireland clouted a two-run double to left center to give Beckman a 3-0 lead.  

“I had two strikes on me and I was waiting on a fastball and I was able to put it in play,” said Ireland. “We’re a hot team right now and it’s fun when you’re playing so well. We feel we have our destiny in our own hands.”

After Isaiah Kapur reached base, Jack Terry slammed an RBI double, followed by Ethan Rhee’s infield ground out that produced another run. Jagger Snitko launched an RBI double to right center. Owen Kelso then laid down a perfect RBI bunt single and the Patriots increased its lead to 7-0.

“We are playing together, not like previous years when it was more individuals,” said Snitko, who had two hits, scored a run, had an RBI and stole a base. “We’re playing well but we can still be better and we need to get ready for CIF.”

Terry also had two hits and scored two runs for Beckman.

“We’re focused and we’re playing loose and we are going to be a tough team to beat in CIF,” said Terry. “Our guys want to win so bad. We’re good but we’re not where we could be yet.”

Head pitched out of minor jams in the fourth and fifth innings. With two on and one out in the fourth, he retired Henry Uhrik and Eric Serafin to end the inning. In the fifth, he gave up an unearned run, but got Nevan Namgoong to fly out to end the inning and prevent any further damage.

“Carter has been our Friday guy all season,” said Beckman Coach Kevin Lavalle. “He was throwing all three or four of his pitches for strikes. He’s a quiet kid, but he’s an unbelievable competitor. Once the game gets going, I have to do very little coaching. These guys are playing well. Our pitching has been excellent and our defense has been very good and we feel we can still improve.”

Serafin had two hits for Woodbridge. Dylan Mutuc was on base twice and scored the Warriors only run.

“It was a tough week for us; they pitched better, hit better and played better than we did for the entire series,” said Warriors Coach Ryan Brucker. “Today, the third inning hurt us and we’ve had some ups and downs with our defense. We have to clean it up in time for CIF.”

Beckman outscored Woodbridge 16-3 in the series.

Notes:

—-Friday marked the 43^rd all-time game between Woodbridge and Beckman. The two teams played for the first time in March  2011. The Patriots hold a 23-20 edge in the series.

— Brooklyn Head, the 11-year old sister of starting pitcher Carter Head, sang a moving rendition of the National Anthem prior to the game. Brooklyn Head is a fifth grade student at Peters Canyon Elementary School in Irvine.  

—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone