IRVINE – Beckman’s baseball team fell behind early but dominated after that, defeating Orange, 13-2, in the opening round of the CIF-SS Division 3 playoffs Friday afternoon at Beckman.
Beckman (22-5) trailed, 1-0, going into the bottom of the first inning but countered with three runs in the first inning, three in the second and five more in the third inning to move ahead, 11-1.
Beckman moves on to the second round Tuesday against Charter Oak at Charter Oak.
Catcher Austin Schell led the way for Beckman with five RBI. He had a two-run single in the first inning, a sacrifice fly in the second inning and a two-run double in the third inning.
“We brought more energy today,” Schell said. “We just wanted to come back after losing league (the Pacific Coast League title).”
“That’s Austin Schell; I think he’s probably one of the best around,” said Beckman coach Kevin Lavalle. “The lineup is designed so that when Austin Schell comes up, there are guys on base, and it certainly worked today.”
Jack Wiese, who pitched into the fifth inning, got the victory. Wiese allowed two runs and four hits while striking out four. Lavalle gave six relief pitchers some work in the final three innings.
Orange (17-11) jumped ahead in the first inning.
Jimmy Endersby doubled to lead off, went to third on a single by Zackery De La Cruz and scored on a sacrifice fly by Salvador Delgadillo.
The Patriots answered in the bottom of the first inning with three runs to take control.
“The score turned out to be pretty lopsided,” Lavalle said. “But I told our guys, ‘that’s a pretty good baseball team.’ When the playoffs start, you start calling every coach you know and anybody who has played them, and I heard the same thing about them: they’re scrappy and they play hard and they’re pretty talented.
“I feel good about it because it might be the first time all year that we’ve practiced, practiced, practiced doing certain specific things and we really took it into the batters box with us. So, that’s a comforting thing as a coach, knowing that your team is maybe starting to click a little bit.”
Leadoff hitter Connor Fidone also had a big day at the plate for Beckman, going 2 for 4 with an RBI and a triple. Matt McLain scored three runs and had an RBI single, and Tyler Geurts scored three runs and had an RBI.
Jack Owens and Jake Groves also had RBI singles for Beckman.
Joseph Leczel drove in Orange’s other run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, scoring Delgadillo, who doubled.
Contact the writer: tburt@ocregister.com
