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Players from the Pacific Coast League who finished the game from Laguna Hills, Woodbridge, Sage Hill and Portola, celebrate the win. The rest of the players had to leave before the game was over due to other commitments. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Seniors from the Pacific Coast League came away with a 9-6 victory over the Empire League Saturday afternoon in the Ryan Lemmon Senior Showcase at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.
The game was one of four presented over the weekend by the Ryan Lemmon Foundation.
The Pacific Coast League team scored five runs in the fourth inning to break the game open. Marcus Zeigler (Beckman) had a two-run double in the inning.
The PCL grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning on a solo home run by Jake Amundson, the MVP of the Pacific Coast League. Lucas Marinelli (Portola) singled and scored and Carter Speights (Beckman) walked and scored.
Adam Harper (Northwood) also helped the PCL build a lead with a walk, single and a run scored.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
“I knew the pitcher was good, he had a good off-speed, he had a nice curveball, but I saw a fastball and a nice count and took a hack at it, went out and I was happy to get the boys started and get them fired up in the first inning and get us going,” said Amundson, who helped the Warriors win their third PCL title in a row.
“It feels good, last game here to hit a home run and to win it with all the guys I’ve been playing with my whole life is really special.”
Max Sensac (Cypress) had an RBI single in the second inning driving in Centurion teammate Matthew Thomas, who walked.
The Empire League tried to make a late comeback scoring three runs in the sixth inning on a bases clearing double by Abbrie Covarrubias and added another run in the eighth and final inning but the PCL was able to hang on for the win.
Lots of pitchers from both teams saw action.
Daniel Villagomez (Kennedy) started for the Empire League. Jake Phillips (Tustin), Logan Brady (Pacifica), Luke Matlock (Cypress) Justin Vey (Kennedy), Chad Gurnea (Pacifica) and Matthew Morrell (Cypress) pitched. Morrell struck out the side in the top of the eighth inning.
PCL pitcher of the year Matthew Kuromoto from Woodbridge started for the Pacific Coast League and pitched a scoreless first inning. Kuromoto was followed by Joon Lee (Irvine), Bobby Bangs (Northwood), Logan Rome (University), Sam Hawley-Browder (Portola), Justin Durby (Woodbridge), Beau Schweitzer (Laguna Hills) and Arvin Chona (Sage Hill).
Harper was the starting catcher for the PCL.
University catcher Alex Zive came into the game to catch for Rome, who pitched a scoreless fourth inning, striking out one with no hits.
The stands were packed for the 1:30 p.m. game on the same day that CIF baseball and softball finals were held.
A number of players had to leave early because of senior proms and other commitments but both teams had enough to finish the eight-inning contest.
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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
