Irvine Vaqueros celebrate Thursday’s CIF playoff victory over Cathedral. (PHOTOS: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).
Irvine’s baseball players are sporting extra wide smiles as they continue to roll through the CIF Division 5 playoffs.
On Thursday afternoon in the quarterfinals, Irvine defeated Cathedral 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel at East Los Angeles College.
The Vaqueros (17-13) have won three consecutive playoff games including Tuesday’s win over top-seeded Citrus Valley to advance into the semifinals for the first time since 1993. Irvine will face the winner of Friday’s quarterfinal contest between Kaiser and Santa Barbara next Tuesday.
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Roshan Patel and Jason Alderson limited Cathedral to five hits. Cathedral stranded base runners in six of the seven innings.
“I kept using my fastball, curveball, two and four seamer, and change-up and looking for their weakness,” said Patel, who left the game after pitching to one batter in the sixth inning due to a right forearm cramp. “Going to the semifinals is something I never thought I would do ever since I was a kid, but here we go.”
With Irvine leading 2-1 Patel gave up a double to Gabriel Gallegos to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning for Cathedral (17-10).
Alderson entered the game and promptly retired three straight Phantom batters on a strikeout, a fly to center and an infield grounder. He then retired Cathedral in order – the first time in the game – in the seventh inning to secure the win for the Vaqueros.
“I said to myself when I came in,’ this is it, we have nothing to lose, I’m going all out to get my job done,’” said Alderson, whose teammates emptied the the Gatorade bucket over his head drenching his uniform during the post-game celebration. “I didn’t feel great in the bullpen but once I got on the mound, I knew my guys had my back. It feels great, especially as a senior, to be in this position.”
Irvine jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Owen Song walked with one out and used his outstanding speed to score on Smith Spivey’s RBI double to right center, giving the Vaqueros a 1-0 lead.
“We pushed hard for this win,” said Spivey, who had a double, an RBI and was on base twice for the Vaqueros. “Their pitcher was tough; he had good off speed stuff, but we hung in there and played excellent defense. This is especially a rewarding win after we lost lost in the second round of the playoffs last year.”
Irvine upped its lead to 2-0 in the top of the third inning. Jack Dressendorfer singled to center with two outs. He then stole second and scored on Song’s RBI single to right, adding an insurance run for the Vaqueros.
Cathedral trimmed the lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI double by Victor Galvez.
Both starting pitchers were equally outstanding.
Patel pitched five innings, gave up five hits, struck out six and walked only two.
The Phantoms had scoring opportunities in the first five innings against Patel, but the tall right hander pitched out of a jam and induced a 6-4-3 double play to end Cathedral’s third inning.
Cathedral’s Nathan Rodarte, threw 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven, walked two while throwing 104 pitches. The Vaqueros managed only six hits.
“It’s a shame one of us had to lose, because both pitchers threw a great game and we both tried to implement our baseball strategies,” said Cathedral Coach Gus Pelayo. “We haven’t been to the playoffs in over 10 years and I’m proud of what out team accomplished this season.”
Irvine Coach Gabriel Cota credited all 25 Vaqueros players for the victory.
“It took all 25 guys to get where we are at; the hard work they put in during practice has paid off,” said Cota, who is in his ninth year as Irvine coach. “In all the years I’ve been coaching, I’ve never been to a semifinal and these guys earned it. We played good fundamental baseball and out pitchers were amazing. We played good defense and we got some big hits early.”
Irvine designated hitter Ethan Kim had an excellent game with two hits.
“It’s amazing that we are going to the semifinals,” said Kim. “We played good defense and our team chemistry is very strong.”
Notes:
—-Cota said that three of his players (Roshan Patel, Smith Spivey and Jason Alderson) will be attending Orange Coast College next season and playing baseball.
—Cathedral has two players who will be playing college baseball next season, Emilio Velarde (Rio Hondo) and Nathan Leal (East Los Angeles College).
—The game, originally scheduled to be played on Friday, was moved to Thursday to accommodate Cathedral’s graduation on Friday.
—-Irvine last reached the CIF semifinals in 1993 but lost. In 1992, the Vaqueros lost in the Division 4A finals to South Hills, 6-5 with Bob Flint as the coach.
—In the top of the fifth inning, Cathedral recorded an unusual 3-4-1 putout at first base.
—-Tough as nails: Late in the game, Irvine catcher Nico Macalino caught a foul tip to his midsection and was in pain for several minutes as play was stopped. After Macalino shook it off, the next Cathedral batter hit Macalino accidentally with his bat as he followed through on a swing.
Macalino was hit in the mask but he able to shake off the cobwebs and remained in the game. “He’s the toughest guy we got,” said Coach Cota. “Nico’s a leader and he knows how to take a hit.”
Macalino said: “It’s part of being a catcher; it comes with the job.”
—-Song had two hits, including a triple, scored run, had an RBI and was base three times for the Vaqueros. The senior center fielder had to leave immediately after the game, so he would be on time to participate in a concert at Irvine Thursday night. Song plays the trumpet.
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