Woodbridge pulls one out over Irvine
Woodbridge pulls one out over Irvine
Warriors scored two runs in the seventh to win PCL game over Irvine, 6-5. For game action, please click on the photo.
Irvine (4-10, 1-6) took advantage of two errors in the top of the seventh and RBI triples by Cole Moeller and Nick Lockwood to score three runs and go ahead, 5-4.
Brandon Smith of Woodbridge beats the throw back to first and the tag by first baseman Nick Lockwood.
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But in the bottom of the inning, Woodbridge (6-7, 3-4) cashed in four Irvine errors to win it.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Connor Rogers delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Cameron MacKenzie. Sam Lemmon, seeing that the ball had been dislodged from the Irvine catcher, also came racing in to score the game-winner.
"That's baseball, you're going to see stuff like that happen," said Woodbridge Coach Tim Murray. "It just all seemed to happen in the last inning."
Lemmon made the biggest play when he scored on the fly ball from second base.
"Lemmon read it on his own," Murray said. "We teach our kids to be aggressive and in the last inning, we had a couple times where we were aggressive on defense and it hurt us a little, but I still believe that this game has to be played being aggressive."
It was a heartbreaking loss for Irvine, which was trying to win its second game in a row over Woodbridge after winning Tuesday's game, 2-1.
"We've just got to learn how to win," Irvine Coach Keith Szczudlak said. "Hats off to Woodbridge, they took advantage of mistakes. We did a great job of coming back in the seventh, we've just got to learn how to close it out, that's the next step."
The game was tied, 2-2, going into the bottom of the fifth inning before MacKenzie hit a two-run home run, his first of the year.
MacKenzie also pitched the first 6 2/3 innings before giving way to Brandon Smith. MacKenize had two outs in the top of the seventh but an error allowed Irvine's Sean Toma to reach on an error and extend the inning. Smith (1-1) got the victory.
Alex Franklin started on the mound for Irvine, before being relieved by Raz Bracha in the fifth inning. Ben Kessler came on to pitch in the seventh but was victimized by poor defense as the first three Woodbridge batters reached on errors.
"This game is full of adversity," Murray said. "Irvine has played us as good as any team we've seen all year and they're doing a great job. They (Irvine) were down two runs with two outs, but it was nice to see our kids fight back."
MacKenzie led Woodbridge with two hits and two RBI. Anthony Torralba and Takumi Usui also had RBI on sacrifice flies for the Warriors.
Moeller had two RBI to lead Irvine's eight hit attack. Jake Garmon had two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Irvine and A.B. Blanchet doubled, scored two runs and had two stolen bases.
The Vaqueros stranded seven runners and had five errors in the game.
Both teams had eight hits.
Warriors scored two runs in the seventh to win PCL game over Irvine, 6-5. For game action, please click on the photo.
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By TIM BURT / The Orange County Register
Irvine (4-10, 1-6) took advantage of two errors in the top of the seventh and RBI triples by Cole Moeller and Nick Lockwood to score three runs and go ahead, 5-4.
Brandon Smith of Woodbridge beats the throw back to first and the tag by first baseman Nick Lockwood.
TIM BURT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER MORE PHOTOS
But in the bottom of the inning, Woodbridge (6-7, 3-4) cashed in four Irvine errors to win it.
With the bases loaded and no outs, Connor Rogers delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Cameron MacKenzie. Sam Lemmon, seeing that the ball had been dislodged from the Irvine catcher, also came racing in to score the game-winner.
"That's baseball, you're going to see stuff like that happen," said Woodbridge Coach Tim Murray. "It just all seemed to happen in the last inning."
Lemmon made the biggest play when he scored on the fly ball from second base.
"Lemmon read it on his own," Murray said. "We teach our kids to be aggressive and in the last inning, we had a couple times where we were aggressive on defense and it hurt us a little, but I still believe that this game has to be played being aggressive."
It was a heartbreaking loss for Irvine, which was trying to win its second game in a row over Woodbridge after winning Tuesday's game, 2-1.
"We've just got to learn how to win," Irvine Coach Keith Szczudlak said. "Hats off to Woodbridge, they took advantage of mistakes. We did a great job of coming back in the seventh, we've just got to learn how to close it out, that's the next step."
The game was tied, 2-2, going into the bottom of the fifth inning before MacKenzie hit a two-run home run, his first of the year.
MacKenzie also pitched the first 6 2/3 innings before giving way to Brandon Smith. MacKenize had two outs in the top of the seventh but an error allowed Irvine's Sean Toma to reach on an error and extend the inning. Smith (1-1) got the victory.
Alex Franklin started on the mound for Irvine, before being relieved by Raz Bracha in the fifth inning. Ben Kessler came on to pitch in the seventh but was victimized by poor defense as the first three Woodbridge batters reached on errors.
"This game is full of adversity," Murray said. "Irvine has played us as good as any team we've seen all year and they're doing a great job. They (Irvine) were down two runs with two outs, but it was nice to see our kids fight back."
MacKenzie led Woodbridge with two hits and two RBI. Anthony Torralba and Takumi Usui also had RBI on sacrifice flies for the Warriors.
Moeller had two RBI to lead Irvine's eight hit attack. Jake Garmon had two hits, an RBI and a run scored for Irvine and A.B. Blanchet doubled, scored two runs and had two stolen bases.
The Vaqueros stranded seven runners and had five errors in the game.
Both teams had eight hits.
Warriors top T'Wolves, 6-3
Warriors top T'Wolves, 6-3, in PCL baseball (pictures)
Cameron Mackenzie goes the distance for Woodbridge. For a look at game action, please click on the photo.
Senior right-hander Cameron Mackenzie came through, pitching a complete game in the Warriors 6-3 win over Northwood at Northwood.
Anthony Torralba of Woodbridge scores from second on an error in the seventh inning to put the Warriors ahead, 4-3 as Northwood catcher Michael Tran waits for the throw.
TIM BURT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Cameron Mackenzie goes the distance for Woodbridge. For a look at game action, please click on the photo.
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SLIDE SHOW:- Warriors top T’Wolves, 6-3, in PCL baseball (pictures)
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By TIM BURT / The Orange County Register
Senior right-hander Cameron Mackenzie came through, pitching a complete game in the Warriors 6-3 win over Northwood at Northwood.
Anthony Torralba of Woodbridge scores from second on an error in the seventh inning to put the Warriors ahead, 4-3 as Northwood catcher Michael Tran waits for the throw.
TIM BURT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Mackenzie (3-1) scattered six hits and struck out six and was supported by an eight-hit attack.
Northwood first baseman Alex King tagged Mackenzie for a three-run home run in the first inning to put the Timberwolves ahead, 3-2.
But Mackenzie blanked the Timberwolves (6-4, 3-2) the rest of the way.
"Alex King is a great hitter and he made one mistake to a really great hitter and usually it doesn't cost you three runs but we had a walk and a catcher's interference before that," Woodbridge Coach Tim Murray said.
"Cameron MacKenzie is as good as it comes in this league and every time he's on the mound, he gives us a chance to win, and that's what you appreciate about a kid like that. He competes."
Woodbridge (5-6, 2-3) trailed, 3-2, before tying the game in the sixth inning. Connor Rogers drove home Mbusi Hlatshwayo with a sacrifice fly.
Then in the top of the seventh inning, Anthony Torralba led off with a double down the left field line. He came home when Brandon Smith reached on an error. The Warriors then scored two more runs, one coming on a sacrifice fly by Sam Lemmon.
Chad Jacob, who had reached on a walk, scored all the way from first base on an errant pick-off throw which went all the way down the right field line, for the other run.
"It was nice to see us compete today," Murray said. "I thought the game in the seventh was decided by our number nine hitter, Anthony Torralba.
"When the No.9 hitter can come up like that in a tie ballgame, that's big."
In the bottom of the inning, Mackenzie blanked the Timberwolves to earn the win.
It ended a frustrating afternoon for Northwood which stranded seven runners in the last six innings and made three errors in the game.
"They just out-competed us the whole game from the first pitch," Northwood Coach Rob Stuart said. "Give them credit, they played great and we flat-out got beat. I thought our pitchers threw great. Good for them, they came out and got a win that they needed to win.
"It really was a must-win for us. Every one is a must-win. It's a baseball game and you want to do things better. We got out-played and out-coached. They played better than we did."
Torralba had two hits and scored a run and Smith scored two runs for the Warriors.
Jack Pabich (2-1) pitched the first six innings for Northwood before being relieved by King.
Rogers helps Warriors notch first victory
Wed, Mar 7 2012 10:43
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Rogers helps Warriors notch first victory
Sophomore is strong on the mound as Woodbridge tops Yorba Linda, 2-0, in the Loara Tournament.
Rogers pitched the first six innings and Cameron MacKenzie came on in the seventh to complete a shutout in the Warriors' 2-0 victory over Yorba Linda in the Loara Tournament.
Connor Rogers got the victory for the Warriors Tuesday night.
Sophomore is strong on the mound as Woodbridge tops Yorba Linda, 2-0, in the Loara Tournament.
- By TIM BURT / The Orange County Register
Rogers pitched the first six innings and Cameron MacKenzie came on in the seventh to complete a shutout in the Warriors' 2-0 victory over Yorba Linda in the Loara Tournament.
Connor Rogers got the victory for the Warriors Tuesday night.
TIM BURT, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
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It was the first win of the year for Woodbridge (1-2).
Rogers (1-0) scattered five hits and struck out two. MacKenzie pitched a perfect seventh, striking out one, to record the save.
"We have a young team and we really haven't played bad," Woodbridge Coach Tim Murray said. "We just haven't got that win yet, and it felt good to get it because Yorba Linda is a very well coached team.
"Connor Rogers is going to be really good. Today was his coming out party. We had some good hits, but I thought we played the game the right way."
Woodbridge, which had five hits in the contest, scored a run in the third inning without getting a hit.
Takumi Usui was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a groundout and scored when MacKenzie reached on an error in the outfield.
The Warriors added an insurance run in the fourth inning. Chad Jacob singled, went to second on a balk and scored on an RBI single by Anthony Torralba.
After that, the Warriors counted on Rogers and MacKenize to silence Yorba Linda (1-4).
The game was scheduled for 4 p.m. then postponed until Wednesday when the umpires didn't show up.
However, shortly after the postponement, the game was back on again for a 5 p.m. start when the umpires arrived.
Woodbridge opened the tournament losing to Dana Hills, 8-5.
"It was a real good game," Murray said. "Then Loara got us 3-1 on Saturday."