Irvine players celebrate a run in the sixth inning by Owen Song Tuesday against Kaiser. (Photos courtesy John Luciano, For OC Sports Zone).
Irvine’s baseball team made it close, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning in Tuesday’s CIF Division 5 semifinal against Kaiser in Fontana.
But the Vaqueros couldn’t complete the comeback as Kaiser held on for a 3-2 victory to advance into this weekend’s CIF finals. Kaiser will be in the CIF finals for the first time since 2016 when the Cats lost to Laguna Beach in the final.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
Kaiser will face Culver City in the final.
Irvine was trying to reach a CIF final for the first time since 1992. The Vaqueros reached the semifinals for the first time since 1993.
“It was just exactly what you think a playoff game is going to be,” said Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota. “I can’t say enough about our guys, how proud I am of them, they continued to battle through all this adversity. They continued to compete, continued to fight, all the way to the end.
“That’s the makeup of these guys, they’re never going to give it up and always going to give it their best effort, I can’t say thank you to them enough.”
Kaiser scored two runs in the first inning when Albert Ateaga belted a two-run double off Irvine starter Matthew Sandoval. Tino Cuellar had a bunt single to start the inning, Isaac Estrada sacrificed him to second. and Joey Chavez was hit by a pitch to get in scoring position.
Irvine loaded the bases in the second inning, but starting pitcher Gabriel Martinez worked out of trouble.
In the bottom of the second inning, Caleb Inzuzna doubled, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error to put Kaiser ahead 3-0.
Reliever Jason Alderson, who came on in the second inning, pitched four scoreless innings for the Vaqueros.
“What a playoff for that guy,” Cota said. “He was absolutely amazing for us.”
Roshan Patel pitched a scoreless sixth inning for Irvine to keep it close.
Martinez was in control on the mound for Kaiser until the sixth inning when the Vaqueros (17-14) rallied. Owen Song and Smith Spivey singled and with Nico Macalino up, Song stole third and scored on an errant throw at third base. Macalino, who walked, wound up at second base with no outs and a large contingent of Irvine fans got excited.
But reliever Dominic Roybal got a strikeout for the first out. Ethan Kim then grounded out driving in a run and cutting the lead to 3-2. But Kaiser ace Zeke Cortez, who pitched in Friday’s win, got Cole Riedel to ground out.
Cortez retired Irvine in order in the seventh. Kaiser out-hit Irvine 5-4.
“We’re going to the finals, second time in school history …. we figured it out and we’re playing really good baseball,” said Kaiser Coach Michael Spinuzzi. “Gabriel got tired in the end, we knew Zeke was going to come in and shut them down. He’s our ace. They’re a good team.”
Irvine players and coaches exchanged handshakes and hugs after a post-game meeting.
“They came out hot, at the start our bats weren’t there and then in the sixth inning, we came alive,” said Spivey, one of 16 Irvine seniors. “We had a good rally but just came up short unfortunately. They’re a good team, they just got the better of us today.
“It was an unlucky loss for us, but it was a great season and great year for us, I’m proud of everyone on this team and how everyone did this year. The comraderie and everything this team had was amazing this year.
“I take this season as a win, first time in 30 plus years you make it to the semis, it’s the first {time} our coach has been and overall our team batting average was over .300. We’ve had a great time, this whole team has just been amazing, these last four years have been a great time.”
Cota, the coach, praised the effort of his players.
“It’s the first time we’ve made it to the semifinals in like 30 years,” Cota said. “I told the guys it’s not because we roll out every day and we’re more talented than anybody. They go about their business every day and they believe in each other and love each other. I’m very proud of them..”
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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