Irvine standouts this week included (from left) Cole Riedel, Smith Spivey, Roshan Patel, Nico Macalino, Matthew Sandoval and Jack Dressendorfer. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Irvine’s baseball squad exploded for four runs in the top of the first inning and went on to defeat Woodbridge 6-1 Thursday night at Ryan Lemmon Stadium to sweep the two-game Pacific Coast League series with the Warriors.
Irvine’s victory created a logjam for second place. Irvine, Woodbridge, University and Laguna Beach are tied with 4-2 records behind league leading Portola (5-1).
Woodbridge started the week leading the league after winning its first four games.
“It’s what this team is capable of, that’s obviously an amazing team,” said Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota. “They’re not 4-0 {previous record} for no reason, they’re coached extremely well. We just had to go back to our identity and play our game of baseball. We tell these guys, ‘we can beat anybody but we’ve shown ourselves we can lose to anybody if we don’t play our game,’ so I was super proud of them.
“Coming back today, we knew they were going to be hungry …. and I was proud of the way we started the game for sure.”
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
Senior left fielder Cole Riedel delivered the big blow in the first inning with a bases loaded double after Roshan Patel drew a bases loaded walk to drive in the first run off Woodbridge starter Alex Johnson.
“It’s always fun to come through with your buddies on the bases and getting your RBI and seeing them celebrate,” Riedel said. “It’s big, they’re our rivals, so every game is always intense and super fun because they’re a great team and they have some good players. We have great players, a great roster top to bottom, that’s what’s so fun, you can rely on every single one to come through.
“I’ve been playing with them since I was in sixth grade so it’s super fun, they’re all my really good buddies.”
Catcher Nico Macalino had a two-run single in the second inning to put Irvine (7-6, 4-2) ahead 6-0. Roshan Patel (5-0) earned the victory, allowing one run through four innings. Jack Dressendorfer, who started the game at third base, came in to pitch three scoreless innings for the Vaqueros.
Woodbridge (7-7, 4-2) stranded 10 batters. Vincent DeMarco led the Warriors offensively going 3 for 4.
“Tough one, that’s kind of been the MO,” said Woodbridge Coach Ryan Brucker. “It’s on me as the head coach to get them prepared and we’ve kind of failed at that, we just haven’t had very good at bats at the midway point with runners in scoring position. We had a couple timely hits early in league that got us a couple wins, but we have to be much better with runners in scoring position and be more competitive.
“I still like our chances with our pitching and defense, but obviously scoring three runs in two games against Irvine is not going to get it done. Credit Irvine, they came out and they were ready to play. That’s a credit to Coach Cota, they’re a good baseball team and we just didn’t do good enough and it starts with me at the top.
Patel had three strikeouts and allowed four hits and Dressendorfer allowed one hit and struck out three.
Offensively, Dressendorfer had a hit and walk and scored two runs, shortstop Smith Spivey had two hits and scored a run, Macalino had two hits and scored a run and Patel scored a run, an RBI, two hits and a sacrifice to lead Irvine’s eight-hit attack. Owen Song also drew a walk and scored a run.
“That’s our identity this year, where top to bottom, we have a bunch of guys who can get it done, it’s pretty cool when they all come together,” Cota said.
Irvine opened the series with a 3-2 victory over Woodbridge Tuesday at Irvine in eight innings. Matthew Sandoval, in his first start, got the victory. Cota used the re-entry rule after taking Sandoval out.
“Our plan was to use him as an opener, hopefully he would get through one or two innings,” Cota said. “I took him out in the sixth, and then he came right back, he was at only 37 pitches through five. He came back and went the rest of the way, it was pretty amazing.”
Macalino had a double to score two runs early and Brody LaGrass got the game-winning hit.
Both Woodbridge and Irvine open the Ryan Lemmon Invitational Saturday at the Great Park.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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