Victorious finish for Vaquero pitcher

Irvine pitcher Alex Suarez with Vaquero Coach Gabriel Cota after receiving a scholarship from the alumni and parents of Irvine baseball. Daniel Simonella also received a scholarship.

Irvine High pitcher Alex Suarez finished his high school career healthy and happy and with a victory under his belt.

He completed the regular season pitching 4 2/3 innings to get the victory and help the Vaqueros defeat Northwood 4-2 in a Pacific Coast League game on May 11.

But there were big challenges to overcome.

In his junior year, Suarez had brain surgery to remove a tumor in his brain. The surgery in January was successful and Suarez returned to pitch in April. He notched the save in the Vaqueros 6-2 victory over University to wrap up the season.

“It definitely went by quick and I made a lot of friendships,” Suarez said after the game. “It’s going to be tough not coming out here every day and hanging out with these boys and have a good time. But we move on and definitely keep in touch with a lot of these kids.”

Suarez provided plenty of inspiration for his teammates. He wound up 2-3 with a 3.30 ERA. In 33 2/3 innings, Suarez struck out 13.

“The kid has been through hell and back,” said Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota. “He had brain surgery last year, he got hit in the face this year and broke his nose (on a line drive into the dugout). I tell him every time I go out to the mound, ‘I wish I had 15 like you,’ because he’s just an absolute competitor. No matter what, he’s going to give everything he has for the team because he feels it’s important.”

Suarez and teammate Daniel Simonella received the $1,000 Vaquero baseball character scholarship after the final home game of the season. Suarez also pitched for the Pacific Coast League in the Ryan Lemmon Showcase in June.

Suarez plans to attend Irvine Valley College in the fall. He is considering playing baseball and is looking into pursing a sports journalism major.