Woodbridge moves into second place with 3-0 win over Beckman; Laguna Hills tops Portola 9-5

Woodbridge High’s baseball team moved into second place in the Pacific Coast League with a 3-0 victory over Beckman Saturday at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.

The Warriors (5-1) are one game behind league-leading Laguna Hills (6-0). Beckman (4-2) is in third place. Woodbridge and Beckman were tied for second place going into the game. Beckman won the PCL title in 2019. The 2020 season was cut short after one game due to the coronavirus pandemic.

WOODBRIDGE 3, BECKMAN 0: Senior Jack Bunnell pitched a complete game shutout, allowing three hits and striking out six. He also had two two hits and a run scored.

Senior catcher Connor Tallakson was 1 for 2 with an RBI double to open the scoring in the fourth inning. Senior second baseman Ryan Kato was 1 for 2 with a two-run RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning and senior center fielder Luke DeVries was 1 for 2 with a run scored.

“We knew it was going to take an outstanding team effort to be in the game against Beckman, and our seniors really stepped up,” said Woodbridge Coach Ryan Brucker. “Their starter was very good and kept us off balance. I was extremely proud of the way our guys kept competing at the plate. Defensively our third baseman Sean McCance and our shortstop Jake Amundson played well.

“It was all about our battery today. Jack Bunnell was in command again for his second straight outing and pitched us out of some tough situations. They had first and second with nobody out twice early, and Jack kept his composure and made big pitches to get us out of those jams without giving up any runs. Jack is a true competitor and the guy you want to have the ball in his hand in big games.

“Connor Tallakson has been outstanding for us defensively behind the plate, and on the offensive side. He has given us some great team at-bats this year and got us on the board with a two-out RBI double in the fourth inning. That was a big at bat to get the momentum on our side.

“Ryan Kato clutched up for us and had the at-bat of the game, when he doubled with the bases loaded. It was a great two strike at bat with two outs that gave us some breathing room going into the seventh. We still have a long way to go, but I like where our team is at right now. We know it’s going to be a dog fight every game in the PCL.”   

LAGUNA HILLS 9, PORTOLA 5: Scotty Kato had a strong start for Laguna Hills, striking out eight.

Jordan Volk was 3 for 4 with two RBI and also pitched 2 1/3 innings to notch the victory.

Patrick Hurdle was 1 for 2 with an RBI double.

“Kato gave us a great outing on the bump, we had a few errors behind him which hurt, but guys like Jordan Volk and Patrick Hurdle stepped up late which helped us get the win,” said Laguna Hills Coach Drew Hillman.

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