After being no-hit through five innings, Woodbridge rallies to defeat Beckman

Matthew Kuromoto (left) was the winning pitcher and Jake Amundson had the game winning hit for Woodbridge. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Frustrated for five innings, Woodbridge High School’s baseball team still found a way to stay close Thursday afternoon in a Pacific Coast League game against Beckman.

Still, the Warriors were one out away from losing the game at Patriot Park before scoring three runs in the seventh to win 3-1 and stay atop the PCL standings with a 3-0 record.

Beckman (3-1-1, 1-1-1) got an outstanding pitching effort from Zach Ireland, who had a no-hitter going into the sixth before Chase Quezada broke it up with a single. Ireland wound up with nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings and struck out the side in the second inning.

“You got to credit Zach Ireland, he is a tough pitcher,” said Woodbridge Coach Ryan Brucker. “He dominated us for seven innings. We always talk about competing, especially against a good pitcher and eventually a mistake will happen, and cashing in on the mistake when the opportunity presents itself.”

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Woodbridge starter Matthew Kuromoto, who came into the game with a 0.64 ERA was also stellar, finishing with a complete game allowing just three hits and striking out three.

“We never give up, that’s our team,” said Kuromoto. “We were like shaky in the beginning, but we brought it together. Jake Amundson got a big hit for us and we started executing, that’s what we needed to do, that’s what our team is good at. Defense and pitching was good too for us.”

Beckman took a 1-0 lead when Marcus Zeigler doubled home Carter Speights, who singled, in the fourth inning.

But in the top of the seventh, Anthony DeMarco led off with a double down the right field line for Woodbridge. Jacob Perez sacrificed him to third. Ireland struck out Jake Haruki for the second out.

Then Nolan Stottlemyer hit a sharp grounder up the middle, which was deflected by Ireland to the second baseman. The throw to first base pulled Maddex Soto off the bag, Stottlemyer was safe on the error allowing the tying run to score. Stottleyer then stole second and went to third on an error.

Trevor Star then walked and stole second to put runners on second and third.

Amundson, who had come on as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning in his first game back after being sidelined with a shoulder injury, then singled to right field off of reliever Ashton Kanegae to drive in two. Kuromoto (2-1) retired Beckman in order in the bottom of the inning.

“All the boys did their job,” said Amundson. “We got guys on and got them over. I just looked for a pitch, got my pitch and hit it. I was pretty stoked, we battled the whole game, they’re a good team and I’m just lucky to come out on top. I haven’t swung the bat in about two months ….. I haven’t even practiced.”

“Fortunately the call went our way and Jake came up with second and third and did the job for us, he’s our senior and our leader and it’s what we expect out of him. He’s been hurt so this was his first game back,” added Brucker.

Beckman also had scoring chances in the second and third inning and Woodbridge (5-1 overall) had chances in the fourth and fifth innings but came away empty handed.

The game was originally scheduled for Ryan Lemmon Stadium, but the field conditions were still unplayable so the game was moved to Beckman. Beckman Athletic Director Steve Fischel credited Coach Kevin Lavalle for having the field ready.

It was the first game for both teams in more than a week due to the rainouts.

Woodbridge and Beckman have two more games against each other late in the season. Woodbridge is trying to win its third PCL title in a row.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com