Beckman’s Sean McLain slides safely into third base after advancing on a fly out following his double. (Photos courtesy Rosalene Ledendecker, For OC Sports Zone).
Beckman’s baseball team took a break from Pacific Coast League play Saturday and continued its outstanding play defeating El Dorado 4-2 in a make-up game from the National Classic at Beckman.
To see the slide show, please click on the first photo
PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone
Beckman (18-4) got a strong pitching effort from Tristan Dupont, who hurled five shutout innings allowing two hits, both in the first inning. He struck out five and hit one batter. Jacob Ho pitched the final two innings allowing two runs (both unearned).
“It was just fun to come out on a Saturday this time of year,” said Beckman Coach Kevin Lavalle. “I think the kids love playing games and the way it worked out with the tournament there was a little bit of rain and the game got pushed back to today.
“I probably couldn’t have ordered anything better than that against a good team. All of this is in preparation for the last four games of league. Not even thinking about the playoffs yet. We’re trying to get better as a team every single day.”
Lavalle and the Patriots can worry about league play Tuesday. That’s when league-leading Beckman can wrap up a share of the league title with a win against second place Northwood at Northwood.
Saturday morning, Beckman looked to Dupont to provide the edge against EL Dorado.
“He goes out and he throws strikes,” Lavalle said. “We polled all of our hitters, not an official poll, and we asked who on our staff do you not like to face in intra squad games or scrimmages and a lot of them said Dupot. He’s got some pretty filthy stuff and he’s left-handed and when he throws strikes you don’t have any other option rather than swing because you don’t want to stand in the batter’s box against a guy who has the kind of stuff he has.”
Beckman broke open a scoreless tie with a run in the third inning off El Dorado starter Corbin Ellis.
Catcher Jack Harney singled, stole second and went to third on a sacrifice by Jakob Guardado. Then second baseman Sean McLain delivered a sacrifice fly for the first run.
In the fourth inning, Connor McGuire led off with a single, stole second and scored on an RBI single by first baseman Nick McLain to put the Patriots ahead 2-0.
Beckman added two more runs in the sixth. Alec Gomez singled and Logan Jackson had an RBI double and later scored on a wild pitch.
El Dorado (12-11) broke the shutout in the seventh. Nate Cadena doubled with one out and later scored when Jaden Pugh reached on a fielder’s choice. The other run scored on one of two Beckman errors in the inning.
Sean McLain also had a double, one of seven hits for Beckman.
“We knew they were going to come out and be a good team to play so we had to bring our A game and we did and it had to start with a good start on the mound with Tristan Dupont,” McLain said. “It was very impressive.”
McLain said he was glad to get the sacrifice and account for the Patriots first score.
“Coach Lavalle does a good job of working with us in practice with sac flies and I just try and do my job and do what I do in practice,” McLain said.
Monday, Beckman will gear up for the game with Northwood.
“It starts with a good practice,” McLain said. “We got to have a good practice. Good practice means good games. That’s what we’ve been doing all year. That’s why we’ve been having some good games so we got to keep that going and Coach Lavalle should provide a good practice plan.”
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-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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