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Buena Park players (from left) Greg Stoddard, Manny Rivera, Ryan Prescott, Izeah Reyes, George De Avila and Alex Blancas contributed to Tuesday’s win. (Photo: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).
Two of the hottest Orange County high school baseball teams clashed on Tuesday afternoon in the Freeway League opener for both teams.
Entering the contest, Buena Park was sporting a 10-game winning streak and La Habra just returned from Arizona where the Highlanders went 5-0 and won the Best of the West Tournament.
So on Tuesday afternoon at La Habra, something had to give.
Coyotes senior right-handed hurler Izeah Reyes scattered four hits, struck out four and tossed a complete game as Buena Park came away with a 1-0 victory over the Highlanders.
The Coyotes (13-5, 1-0) have won 11 consecutive games and have shutout their last four opponents. Tuesday was Buena Park’s sixth shutout of the season and during its 11-game winning streak, the Coyotes have outscored their opponents 52-8. They have not allowed more than four runs scored against them in any one game thus far.
“It was an intense game, and I felt strong with my fastball and curveball,” said Reyes, who earned his second win of the season. “We wanted to beat them bad; they have CIF championships and they are one of the top teams.”
Reyes’ counterpart, Jared Day was also outstanding for La Habra. He pitched a complete game, yielded only four hits, and struck out nine but hit two batters in the sixth inning that proved costly.
Day retired the first two Coyotes hitters in the sixth inning, but then gave up a single to Neil Navarro and then hit Alex Blancas with a pitch. Ryan Prescott followed with an RBI single scoring Navarro. Day then hit Greg Stoddard with a pitch to load the bases but he got Reyes to pop out to end the inning.
“I continued to focus on my batting approach even though I didn’t do well the first two times up,” said Prescott. “I just shook it off and saw the guys on base and wanted to drive them home. It’s amazing to win a game like this. I think we showed that we can compete.”
For Stoddard it was good to be back playing after missing significant time due to injuries.
“I missed most of the last two seasons because of injuries, so it feels good to be a part of the team and beat La Habra,” said Stoddard, who had two hits and was on base three times. “So many people consider us underdogs, so this win feels great.”
The Highlanders (13-4, 0-1) had several scoring opportunities but came up short.
After reaching base with two outs on a fielder’s choice in the second inning, Zach Lopez tried to score from second base on a single by Jonah Mayo, but Buena Park left fielder Manny Rivera threw a strike to home plate and Navarro tagged out Lopez for the third out.
Bobby Fiero led off the third inning with a double, but was picked off second by Reyes who caught Fierro attempting to steal third and threw to third baseman Alex Blancas who tagged Fierro out.
Again in the fourth and fifth innings, the Highlanders had runners in scoring position but Reyes was able to pitch out of the jam each time. In the sixth inning, Blancas leaped high in the air at third base to snag a line drive off the bat of Lopez for the third out. Blancas’ fielding gem robbed Lopez of an extra base hit and prevented the Highlanders from tying the game.
In the seventh inning, Mayo worked a one out walk and was pinch run for by Fernando Alatorre. However, the Coyotes executed a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and close out the game.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on La Habra, they came back from Arizona 5-0 and we knew it was going to be a battle,” said Buena Park coach Cody Gutierrez. “Reyes was superb and we had good at bats and we earned this win, I’m really excited.”
La Habra Coach Jack Brooks credited Buena Park.
“They made some very good defensive plays and got a big hit ,” said Brooks, whose team had its six-game winning streak snapped. “It was a well-played game and Jared Day was incredible. He deserved better but it’s only one game.”
An unusual play occurred in the top half of the fifth inning that prevented the Coyotes from scoring a run. With Stoddard at second base and two outs, George De Avila came to bat. De Avila took a strike and Stoddard broke for third base.
Highlanders catcher Izaiah Posada attempted to throw to third but his throw hit De Avila’s bat and caromed into center field. Stoddard scored on the play.
However, after a La Habra protest both umpires discussed the play and ruled that De Avila had stepped out of the batter’s box and interfered with Posada’s throw. De Avila was ruled out for the third out and the run did not count and Buena Park was retired.
—Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone
