Irvine coaches including head coach Gabriel Cota (left) meet with the Vaqueros after the win. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Irvine High School’s baseball team continued its solid play to start the season, defeating Segerstrom 3-0 Friday afternoon in a non-league game at Segerstrom.
Senior pitcher Adam Valencia went the distance for Irvine, allowing two hits to earn the victory. Valencia (2-0) struck out two, did not walk a batter and hit one. He also contributed offensively going 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Irvine (4-1) had eight hits off four pitchers for Segerstrom (3-3).
“Adam Valencia was pretty dominant on the mound today,” said Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota. “We have a couple of arms who are pretty talented and if our formula is that we’re going to go out and throw a shutout every game, it’s just not going to happen so the fact that our whole group stays engaged is really cool.
“Top to bottom, everyone is important and they understand that. We talk a lot in this program about leaving the jersey better than they found it and this group is absolutely doing that, so I get fired up with the nine guys on the field but everyone is contributing and making it a fun ride for us.”
The teams were scoreless through three innings, but in the fourth inning, Owen Featherston was hit by a pitch by Segerstrom starter Marcus Valeriano. Smith Spivey then sacrificed Featherston to second on a bunt and Alex Cho singled to drive in the run. Cho was tagged out between first and second on a rundown to end the inning.
In the fifth inning, Evan Tamayo, who reached on a fielder’s choice and stole second, scored on an RBI single by Valencia to put the Vaqueros ahead 2-0. Irvine got an insurance run in the sixth inning. Featherston singled, Cho doubled and Featherston came home on a wild pitch.
“He’s been a three-year varsity guy,” Cota said of Featherston. “He’s kind of grinded it out and fought through some injuries throughout his high school career and it’s paying dividends. He’s one of those guys who never says a word but he comes and grinds every single day.”
Valencia sealed the victory by retiring the Jaguars in order in the seventh. He retired 10 batters in a row to end the game.
“It’s a good win, a fun win, it’s good that you have the whole team working together to bring a shutout win,” Valencia said. “I’m trying to do everything I can to fill those holes the seniors left last year. I’m excited for the rest of the season, ready to play. We’re looking good and ready to see what this team has. I think we’re going to be competing this year and I think we will be a good team.”
Cho and Valencia each had two hits and Featherston scored two runs.
Adrian Covarrubias and Elijah Sandoval had singles for Segerstrom, which was coming off a 2-1 victory over Century Thursday.
Valeriano pitched into the fifth inning. Tito Fraser, Joseph Mendez and Robert Anoba finished on the mound for the Jaguars.
Irvine also defeated Segerstrom 6-0 in the season opener at Irvine.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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