Woodbridge notches key victory over Portola but CIF playoff race still undecided

Woodbridge Coach Ryan Brucker talks to his team after Wednesday’s win. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Woodbridge High School’s baseball team inched closer to securing the fourth and final automatic CIF playoff from the Pacific Coast League with a 14-3 victory over Portola in a rare night game Wednesday at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.

But the Warriors (18-9, 7-6) still need to defeat Portola (9-15, 6-7) in order to do that, according to Woodbridge coach Ryan Brucker.

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There are other possibilities, including one that has the Warriors going to the playoffs as an-large team based on their better than .500 overall mark if they don’t finish in the top four of league.

Portola, looking for its first trip to the CIF playoffs, can secure fourth place with a win over Woodbridge Friday at Portola based on a tie-breaker formula in the eight-team league. That’s assuming that Irvine finishes in second place and Northwood in third place.

“If we win we get the fourth place spot, if they win we’re tied but they have the tie-breaker,” Brucker said after the win. “In order to get the guaranteed automatic qualifier we have to win. We have eight teams now. So because we’re playing an even amount of games, what we decided that it goes to your record against the first place team, which would be Laguna Beach, we both lost twice to Laguna Beach.

“Then it goes to your record against the second place team, Irvine beat us twice, they split with Irvine. So if they win (Friday) that qualifies them for the fourth place spot.”

On senior night, junior Vince DeMarco pitched the first five innings to earn the win. DeMarco (9-1) allowed one earned run. He struck out the side twice, ending up with eight strikeouts while holding the Bulldogs to three hits.

Senior Aidan Brady pitched a scoreless sixth inning striking out the side and Caden Camacho blanked the Bulldogs in the seventh.

“It was a very good win. I told the kids after the game, last week we won 14-0 and had 21 hits and then we came out against St. Margaret’s Friday and we didn’t perform very well and they beat us in 10 innings,” Brucker said. “As long as we take the approach offensively that we took today, we will be OK. Our pitching gives us a chance every game. We need to clean up the defense if we want to get into the playoffs and then move on.

“DeMarco is our guy on the mound, he throws strikes and is really consistent. He’s a competitor for us.”

Woodbridge broke the game open with four runs in both the first and second innings.

Nevan Namgoong was 2 for 5 with a run scored and an RBI, DeMarco was 3 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI, Caden Camacho was 4 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored, shortstop Nolan Stottlemyer was 2 for 4 with three runs scored and an RBI double, Henry Uhrik was 3 for 4 with two RBI, Chase Anderson was 2 for 3 with two RBI, Vaughn Tase was 2 for 3 with a run scored and Dylan Mutuc was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI and Caleb Camacho scored two runs to lead the Warriors’ 18-hit attack off four Portola pitchers.

It was a fun night for the seniors, including Stottlemyer. All the seniors were honored in a ceremony after the game.

“We had a little rut last week, so I’m really happy we came out here strong,” said Stottlemyer. “This game felt like a big win for the seniors. Last year, we didn’t do it for them so it felt like the team was really in this one. I love this field, so if I never get to play here again, it’s really nice to get this win. We need to beat Portola Friday for sure to advance to CIF and I think this team can do it. This team when we play, we play hard. It’s a good time to get hot. I really hope we just dial it in on Friday and we just continue the success.”

Portola’s three runs came in the third inning. Nico Atencio had a double and scored on an RBI single by Cooper Marinelli. Two more runs came home on an error.

Woodbridge sent 12 batters to the plate in the fifth inning scoring six more runs, but the spirits of the Portola players remained high in the dugout.

“I was proud of our guys for staying in it,” said Portola Coach Bryan Resnick. “After the first two innings, I feel it could have really gotten out of hand. But we answered back and made it a game for another couple innings before they got that six spot that kind of solidified the game for them.”

So now it all comes down to the rematch.

“Our guys know coming into this week we needed a win, we were hoping to get it today but we knew they were throwing a really good pitcher and they have a really good team,” Resnick said. “We know they’re going to come out Friday and have the same good team coming against us. Even though it’s easier to get one win than two, we know it’s a tough task because they have a good program and we’re just happy we can battle and have that opportunity.

“We’re still a fairly young program and haven’t been to the playoffs.”

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