Beckman’s baseball team is on the road for Thursday’s CIF Division 3 playoff opener. (Photo courtesy Beckman baseball).
After losing some key players to injuries for the season in the first weeks of the season, Beckman High School’s baseball team had a strong finish and earned a spot in the CIF Division 3 playoffs.
Beckman is the defending CIF Division 3 champion. The Patriots defeated St. John Bosco 2-1, last season to earn the second crown in school history.
Beckman (15-13) will play at Temescal Canyon (22-5) in the opening round Thursday. Temescal Canyon is the Mountain Pass co-champion.
Beckman’s last game was on Friday, April 25 when the Patriots defeated San Juan Hills 4-2. Nick Molina had a two-run home run to lift Beckman to the win.
The Patriots, coached by Kevin Lavalle, wound up in a four-way tie for second place in their first year in the Sea View League
“At this point, we are who we are,”Lavalle said this week. “I don’t think anybody still playing is 100 percent healthy, but the early part of the year was pretty tough. Sometimes adversity can bring a team together, and that’s definitely what happened with us.
“We have a lot of veterans that have stayed the course, and that leadership is probably why we’re still playing.”
The pitchers have led the way.
“Carter Head, Nick Molina and Alex Dorantes have been our starting pitchers, but there are a host of guys that we feel comfortable with in matchup situations,” Lavalle said. “Offensively, it’s been a collective effort. When we win, we get guys on base and execute.”
Lavalle knows the journey to the finals can be tough.
“Over the years, I have learned that there is no point in trying to figure out the CIF draw, because it’s really out of your control,” he said. “Now with the competitive equity formula, it makes even less sense in certain situations. I think everyone would agree that having a league matchup in round one of the playoffs is ridiculous, but it is what it is.
“Now the controversy circles around where they draw the lines for each division. In some cases it feels like teams are punished for over-achieving, and some teams are rewarded with a lower division for under-achieving.
“Bottom line is that every team in every division in every section in California has a tough road to the finals, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense to dwell on it.”
Lavalle remains confident in his team.
“We will get on a bus on Thursday and go try to win a baseball game, and I feel like if we play really well, we will win,” he said.
The winner of Friday’s game faces the Cajon vs. Hart winner in the second round on Tuesday.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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