OC players help UCLA win Pac-12 title and earn No. 1 national seed in NCAA Tourney

Garrett Mitchell out of Orange Lutheran has been one of the standouts on the UCLA baseball team. (Photos courtesy UCLA Athletic Communications, For OC Sports Zone)

UCLA’s baseball team, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, has had contributions from seven Orange County players, including former Orange Lutheran standout Garrett Mitchell and JSerra stars Jake Pries and Chase Strumpf.

The Bruins (47-8) will open the Los Angeles Regional Friday against No. 4 Omaha (31-22-1) on Friday at 7 p.m. at UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium.

To see a slide show of OC players on the UCLA team, please click on the first photo:

In the first game, No. 2 Baylor (34-17) will play No. 3 Loyola Marymount (32-23) Friday at 1 p.m.

UCLA will be making its 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament under Coach John Savage and it’s the second time in program history that the Bruins will be the tournament’s top seed, according to a release from the UCI Athletic Communications office.

UCLA set records for regular season wins and conference wins (24) and won the Pac-12 championship for the fourth time in Savage’s tenure, the release noted.

UCLA is also on a 10-game winning streak.

Here’s a look at the Orange County players on the UCLA team:

-Garrett Mitchell, sophomore outfielder, Orange Lutheran High, hometown Orange.

Stats: .360 batting average, 52 runs scored, 14 doubles, nine triples, six home runs, 38 RBI, 17 of 21 stolen bases.

-Jake Pries, senior outfielder, JSerra High, hometown San Juan Capistrano.

Stats: .289 batting average, 34 runs scored, five doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 35 RBI.

-Chase Strumpf, junior infielder, JSerra High, hometown Dana Point.

Stats: .284 batting average, 47 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 38 RBI.

-Michael Townsend, sophomore pitcher, Los Alamitos High, hometown Los Alamitos.

Stats: 2-0 record, 1.69 ERA in 18 games, 27 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings.

-Kyle Mora, junior pitcher, Los Alamitos High, hometown Los Alamitos.

Stats: 3-2, 2.22 ERA in 43 games, 62 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings.

-Matt McLain, freshman infielder-outfielder, Beckman High, hometown Tustin.

Stats: .201 batting average, 27 runs scored, nine doubles, six triples, four home runs, 29 RBI, six stolen bases and has started 52 games.

-Will McInerny, junior catcher, Laguna Beach High, hometown Laguna Beach.

Stats: .205 batting average in 44 at bats, four runs scored and four RBI.

–Source: UCLA Athletic Communications