Fans showed up at Ryan Lemmon Stadium to watch Woodbridge face Irvine in a Pacific Coast League game. (File photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
About a week ago, hundreds of baseball fans in Irvine showed up in good numbers at Ryan Lemmon Stadium in Irvine to watch Woodbridge meet Irvine in a Pacific Coast League baseball game on a Friday night.
It was a well played game that took less than two hours. Woodbridge, behind a 14-strikeout effort of Max Montplaisir, defeated Irvine 2-0 in the PCL opener. Ryan Barlow also pitched well for Irvine.
The mood in the stands was light. Fans didn’t seem concerned about the coronavirus. Like always, there were good natured barbs between the fans of the two teams, who are arch rivals.
What a difference a week can make.
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In that span, high school athletics have been postponed in Orange County from two to four weeks and schools have been closed.
The Big West basketball tournaments have been canceled aloing with the CIF state basketball finals, the NCAA championships and community college sports. In addition, the NBA and NHL suspended play and the start of Major League baseball was delayed. In addition, a popular high school baseball tournament, the Ryan Lemmon Showcase, which was to have a record 32-team field and the Irvine Invitational track meet events were cancelled. Also, the Alan Dugard Softball Classic, a tournament that attracts some of the best teams in Orange County, was postponed.
And the OC Soccer Club and all the USL teams suspended their seasons and adult softball leagues in Irvine were suspended.
But sports will always be a part of our lives.
OC Sports Zone remains committed to providing coverage during this uncertain time. We will continue our regular daily publication schedule.
If you have story ideas, please email Editor Tim Burt: timburt@ocsportszone.com so we can share sports news during this break. Perhaps athletes can share what they are doing during the break.
In the meantime, we hope all of you will follow the recommended guidelines, be safe, keep the faith and look out for your families. The hope is, that the seasons will continue within a month and we can all start to enjoy sports again.
Maybe, just maybe, it will happen sooner!
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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