PHOTOS: Irvine High’s baseball seniors honored during a procession of cars

Irvine High pitcher Ryan Barlow was one of the players honored during Saturday’s parade by supporters. (Photos courtesy Irvine baseball)

Irvine High’s baseball coaches and supporters wanted to honor the program’s seniors who had their season shortened because of the coronavirus pandemic.

So they organized a caravan of cars to to form a procession and visit each of the seniors at their homes Saturday afternoon. Head coach Gabriel Cota and assistant coaches Ed Trgovac and Casey Dumont also visited with each player maintaining social distancing and wearing masks. The visits took about three hours.

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

Supporters of the baseball program get ready for Saturday's parade.

Zaid Humphrey is joined by Coach Gabriel Cota (right) and assistant coach Ed Trgovac.

Michael Simonella was one of the Irvine scholarship winners.

Michael Simonella is joined by Coach Gabriel Cota (middle) and assistant coaches Casey Dumont (left) and Ed Trgovac.

Irvine senior Isaac Hong was one of the Vaqueros scholarship winners.

Irvine's Elliot Jun with the Irvine coaches Saturday.

Michael Simonella with the Irvine coaches Saturday.

Irvine's Jack Redington (left) with his family was one of the seniors honored.

Irvine's Yoni Bracha was one of the players honored.

Irvine baseball fans get ready to honor the seniors Saturday.

Irvine fans take part in a celebration Saturday.

Brett Moeller of Irvine was among the players honored Saturday.

Cameron Hicks with Coach Gabriel Cota.

Irvine's Ryan Barlow is joined by coaches Gabriel Cota (left) and Casey Dumont.

Irvine's Jackson Lyman was among the players honored.

“Saturday was one of those days that humbles and inspires you,” said Cota. “We talk to the players all the time about the fact that this program’s number one goal is to develop the best young men possible. We were able to honor our seniors by have a procession of over 30 cars including current players, families, coaches and alumni.

“We rode around to each senior home and gave them all their senior banner, yard sign, and a flower fashioned from a baseball to each family. Participants in the procession did their best to adhere to the Covid-19 social distancing guidelines and stayed in their car while rolling past honking their horns and shouting out words of praise.

“A day like Saturday really goes to show that this program is much more than baseball. Irvine baseball has created an atmosphere of family even in a trying time like this.”

Irvine’s seniors include Ryan Barlow, Jonathan Bracha, Camron Hicks, Isaac Hong, Zaid Humphrey, Elliot Jun, Jackson Lyman, Brett Moeller, Jack Redington and Michael Simonella.

Cota also announced that Hong and Simonella were the recipients of the $1,000 Vaqueros baseball scholarship awards presented by the booster club for their outstanding contributions to the program.

Irvine was off to a 6-2 start when play was stopped in March.

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