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Jake Amundson fires a pitch in Wednesday’s PCL game vs. Beckman. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Woodbridge High School’s baseball team clinched at least a share of the Pacific Coast League title Wednesday with a 6-1 victory over Beckman at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.
But the Warriors (20-5, 16-2) didn’t celebrate too much after the victory, which they treated like most of their wins this year. Woodbridge has won the title the last two years.
“It feels good, we’ve won it three years now, we’re looking to clinch it all tomorrow,” said winning pitcher Jake Amundson, who improved his record to 5-1 with a complete game effort.
Woodbridge would be able to celebrate an out-right title with a victory over Beckman on Thursday, again at 3:30 p.m. at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.
“Obviously, this clinches a share for us and we’re happy about that but we still got a job to do and business to take care of obviously tomorrow,” said Woodbridge Coach Ryan Brucker. “It feels good, I think the guys feel like the job is not quite done yet. We will come out tomorrow and try and give them the best game we can.”
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Woodbridge has a three-game lead over second place Northwood (16-8, 12-5) in the loss column.
But Northwood still has four more games remaining, including a two-game series with Woodbridge next week. Northwood Coach Doug Euper pointed out that his team could still share the league title with Woodridge if Beckman beats Woodbridge Thursday and the Timberwolves win their remaining games.
Woodbridge got a strong pitching performance from Amundson on Wednesday. Amundson allowed one run, scattering 10 hits and striking out seven.
“Jake threw really well today. I told him before the game, he was the one I wanted for this game,” Brucker said. “And he delivered for us; the kid has had a great four-year career, he blew his elbow up his freshman year and to be able to bounce back and pitch us in a game that clinches at least a share of the league championship is a pretty big deal.”
“That was my whole plan (to go the distance),” Amundson said. “I figured the best way to help my team is just to go the whole game.”
Woodbridge scored a run in the first inning. Matthew Kuromoto led off with a single and came around to score on a double play.
The Warriors added two more runs in the fourth inning. Anthony DeMarco walked and Chase Quezada was hit by a pitch. The two runners moved up a base when starting pitcher Gio Sambito was called for a balk. Beckman coach Kevin Lavalle argued the call, but the call stood.
Daniel O’Hanlon then followed with a two-run single to put Woodbridge ahead 3-0.
Beckman (13-10-2, 9-7-2) cut the lead to 3-1 with a run in the fifth inning. Ken Tomitaka singled and came around to score on a single by Carter Speights. Jagger Snitko was thrown out at home trying to score on the play, ending the threat. He was the second Patriot runner in the game thrown out at home on a hit.
Woodbridge added three more runs in the bottom of the iinning, taking advantage of three walks and two wild pitches. O’Hanlon had a sacrifice fly in the inning.
O’Hanlon had three RBI and Kuromoto had hits for Woodbridge.
Leadoff hitter Max Lazaruk had three of the hits for Beckman, which is in third place ahead of fourth place Laguna Hills (15-8, 9-8). Beckman has three more league games remaining and Laguna Hills four.
Four PCL teams earn automatic berths to the CIF playoffs.
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—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
