Irvine honors seniors and then wraps up second in PCL with 4-3 victory over Northwood

JC Allen delivers the game winning single for Irvine against Northwood. (Photos courtesy Jim Tomlin, For OC Sports Zone)

Irvine High’s baseball team locked up second place in the Pacific Coast League with a 4-3 victory over Northwood Tuesday afternoon at Irvine.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

Irvine High seniors were joined on the field by their parents and family members Tuesday.
Photo courtesy Irvine baseball, For OC Sports Zone

Grant Lockwood of Irvine slides into second base as Northwood's Trey Littlejohn waits for the ball.

Irvine's Miles Malohn fires a pitch during Tuesday's game against Northwood.

Northwood's Trey Littlejohn waits for a pitch in Tuesday's game.

Irvine's Grant Lockwood tries to apply the tag on a Northwood runner Tuesday.

Arthur Liu of Northwood takes a swing Tuesday against Irvine.

Leonard Memon of Irvine delivers a pitch Tuesday against Northwood.

Northwood's German Valdez fires a pitch in Tuesday's game against Irvine.

Irvine senior Bubba Filia, normally a catcher, came on to close the game out.

Northwood's Justin Bonnell delivers a pitch in Tuesday's game.

Irvine players charge out to the field to celebrate the victory.

“Today was our senior day so the most important thing was to honor the commitment those men have made to our program,” said Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota.

“We preach using baseball as an avenue to help develop the best people possible while they are with us. I am so proud of all these young men. Every senior was able to play and contribute. Once again our team showed their grit and determination to not give in when Northwood tied it in the seventh.

“If you are playing a team coached by Rob Stuart you better be ready to play all seven (innings) because they will never give up.”

Irvine now has a two-game lead over Northwood with one game left.

Northwood came back to tie the game with two runs in the seventh inning before Irvine pushed across the game winner in the bottom of the inning.

Irvine (16-8, 10-4) was led by Bubba Filia, who was 1 for 3 with a run scored. He was also hit by a pitch. JC Allen had a walk-off single for the Vaqueros.

Jack Redington was 1 for 1 with a walk and a run scored.

The pitchers included Miles Malohn, who pitched four innings, allowing no hits and striking out two and Edward Kole, who pitched a shutout inning. Leonard Memon and Filia also saw time on the mound.

Northwood fell to 10-11-1 and 8-6 in the PCL and will finish third in the league.

The two teams meet again Thursday at Northwood.

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