Battle for first place in PCL between Woodbridge and Beckman extended until Monday

Lead-off hitter Nate Perry led the Warriors offense Thursday. (Photos: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

The Pacific Coast League baseball title chase is going to the wire.

Woodbridge kept its hopes alive for a second consecutive league crown with a must-win 4-3 victory over Beckman Thursday afternoon at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.

Beckman (19-6, 13-2) could have wrapped up a share of the crown. The Patriots had a two-game lead going into the game. But with the win by Woodbridge (18-7, 12-3) which cut the Patriots lead to one game, the race for first place is now extended to Monday at Beckman. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Both teams have three games left in league play.

“I’m really proud of the way the guys battled back,” said Woodbridge Coach Ryan Brucker. “We’ve put ourselves in a position, and as a coach, that’s all you can ask is at the end of the year to have a chance to either earn a share or win league and we’re still alive. We will enjoy this one and get back to Patriot Park Monday where I know it will probably be another good one, like they always are.”

To see additional photos, click on the first picture:

Beckman moved ahead 1-0 with a run in the top of the first. Marcus Zeigler singled and scored on an RBI single by Marshall Minor.

But in the bottom of the first inning, Nate Perry led off with a double to deep center field. Chase Quezada walked and Matthew Kuromoto laid down a sacrifice bunt which Beckman misplayed, allowing two runs to score and giving the Warriors a 2-1 lead.

“Our offensive approach early was really good against a guy (AJ Roettger), to be frank, really shut us down the last time we faced him,” Brucker said. “I was happy we got the bunt down early in the game and our guys just competed really well.”

Beckman Coach Kevin Lavalle summed up what happened briefly after the game.

“We gave them some runs early and they capitalized and that’s the game,” he said. “We practice tomorrow, we practice Saturday if we want to and play Monday, that’s as simple as it gets.”

Woodbridge got a strong effort on the mound from Kuromoto, who pitched into the fifth inning, allowing three runs and striking out six to get the win before giving way to Sean McCance, who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out three. He did not allow a hit.

“I’m real happy with Matt’s effort, he’s been real good for us all year long,” Brucker said. “I don’t think he had his best stuff today but he kept us in it and gave us enough to win and then Sean coming in to close and get a save, that’s what you want your senior leader to do.”

Beckman rallied with two runs in the fifth inning. Zeigler and Josh Miller had RBI singles before McCance was able to end the rally.

Woodbridge was led by Perry, who was 2 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI single in the second inning . Chase Quezada also had an RBI single in the second to put the Warriors ahead 4-1.

“We played really good, Matthew Kuromoto pitched a great game for us as well as Sean McCance,” Perry said. “I think we did reallly good at playing small ball. Coach Brucker always says, ‘the baseball Gods love small ball’ and we picked up a really good win but we got one more to beat them. We’re just really excited for this win.

“I think all the boys, after our last practice yesterday, were really hyped up to play this game and we were just ready to play.”

Both Beckman and Woodbridge are headed to the CIF playoffs, regardless of what happens next week.

Beckman won the first match-up with Woodbridge 4-1 on Saturday, March 12.

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