Orange unable to mount attack vs. Los Altos

ORANGE - A surging Los Altos baseball team scored an upset victory over Orange on Friday in the first round of the CIF-SS Division III playoffs.

The Conquerors were able to advance to the second round with a 4-2 victory over Orange (18-8).

Los Altos (13-11) has won nine of its past 12 games since starting the season with a 4-8 record.

Despite a solid outing from his ace, Gavin Stoecker, Orange coach Alex Vicario wasn't content with his team's effort and lackluster offensive production.

The Golden West League champs stranded three runners in scoring position, and the usually dangerous bats of Stoecker and his brother Taylor were quiet in the loss. The Stoeckers had  entered the game with batting averages over .369.

“You never want to go out like that,” Vicario said. “I just wish we went out playing our best game, and that's the disappointing part, that you work so hard and it ends so quick.

“I don't think we got after it and swung the bats like we could. You want to go out playing your best, and I'm not sure we did that today.”

Los Altos pitcher Michael Luna, a sophomore, pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits. He entered the seventh inning having retired eight consecutive batters.

Contact the writer: preps@ocregister.com