University baseball team shows ‘passion’ in non-league victory over Mission Viejo

Blaine Anderson scores a run for University on a single in the third inning. The Mission Viejo catcher is Andrew Egerton-Rueter. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

University High School’s baseball team put together a couple big innings early and went on to defeat Mission Viejo 10-3 Friday afternoon in a non-league game at Uni.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but move up a day due to the expected rains.

“The kids competed, that’s all we asked them to do,” said University Coach Wesley Shaw. “They showed a lot of passion today and that’s a key to this team. They got to stay focused. I’m pleased, we can get better, we just got to keep working at it. Now we start conference and the journey starts.”

Mission Viejo (3-4) started out fast against University starter Austen Barnett, scoring three runs in the first inning.

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Max Osika singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single by Keenan Anzai. Toby Cohen also singled and Joey Pallone delivered a two-run single to put the Diablos ahead 3-0.

But Barnett settled down after that, shutting out Mission Viejo for the next four innings. Cooper Berger came on in the sixth inning to pitch two scoreless innings.

“We got off 3-0 early, in the last three games, we’ve put up a bunch of runs in the first inning, we kind of struggled a little bit on the mound throwing strikes and they took advantage of it, to their credit, when they got in the hitting counts, they made us pay,” said Mission Viejo Coach Daniel Holley.

In the bottom of the first inning, Luke Weston tripled off starter Sawyer Stachan driving in Rivin Ruhunage. Barnett’s RBI single cut the lead to one.

Then in the second inning, University cashed in a couple walks and an error into four runs. Jameson Lobianco had an RBI single, Weston drove home a run on a fielder’s choice and Berger drilled a single for two more runs to give University a 6-3 lead.

The Trojans got four more insurance runs in the third inning. Lobianco, Ruhanage and Barnett had RBI singles and Weston drove in a run on a sacrifice fly. Shayan Eldridge, trying to sacrifice, reached on a bunt single to load the bases.

Then it was up to Barnett and Berger to close the deal on the mound. They allowed just three hits the rest of the way. University made three infield errors, but it didn’t cost the Trojans.

“Our pitching is going to carry us, we’re getting stronger in the weight room so it that’s a big thing for us, this ball club and the future is bright,” Shaw said.

Weston had three RBI and Barnett, Berger, and Lobianco all had two RBI for University (2-1).

University opens Pacific Coast League play next week with a three game series against Sage Hill (0-7, 0-3) starting Tuesday, March 5 at Sage Hill.

Mission Viejo hosts Edison Wednesday afternoon. The Diablos South Coast League opener is Tuesday, March 26, vs. Capistrano Valley.

“We’re trying to figure things about before we get to league,” Holley said. “We’re trying to see who are going to be our guys in the starting lineup, who is going to be our first guy out of the bullpen. We’re trying a lot of different things and seeing what works before we start with Capo Valley, that’s going to be tough.”

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