The South Coast League all-stars staged a dramatic five-run seventh-inning rally to defeat the Empire League all-stars, 5-4, Friday evening at the 20th annual Ryan Lemmon Foundation Showcase at Ryan Lemmon Stadium.
Gavin Garcia’s game-winning RBI single with two outs gave the South Coast all-stars the victory.
Trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the seventh, the first two batters for the South Coast all-stars walked to lead off the inning.
Brett Auerbach then blasted a three-run homer to left off of Tustin’s Cole Hoskins to cut the lead to 4-3.
One out later, Zach Bowman singled and was run for by Andrew Tsunoda.
Max Mircovich was hit by a pitch and Spencer Heinsus walked to load the bases.
Blake Sabol grounded out for the second out of the inning and Tsunoda scored on the play to tie the game at 4-4.
Garcia then whacked a single to left, scoring Bowman, for the game-winner.
“I thought our pitchers threw well tonight,” said Tustin coach Charles Chatman, who was one of the six Empire League coaches.
“Hoskins has been our No. 1 guy all year. He pitched great for us in the playoffs against Esperanza but we lost 1-0. Tonight was different role for him. He’s a starter and today did not exemplify what he’s done for us this whole year,” Chatman said.
Seven of the 23 Empire League all-stars were Tustin Tillers. Hoskins, David Bohorquez, Myles Thompson, Dalin Lee, Blake Akins, Antonio Barrios, and Nick Jacobson all took part in the game.
The Empire League pushed across two runs in each of the first two innings to build 4-0 lead.
Barrios was impressive in his one inning of relief. He struck out the side in the fifth inning.
“I felt great,” Barrios said. “I felt that I was at my best and it always feels great to strike out the side.”
Akins followed Barrios and set the side down in order in the sixth inning.
“It was a fun game to play with friends I’ve known for a long time,” said Akins. “It wasn’t stressful.”
Lee reached base once in three at bats.
Jacobson, Thompson and Bohorquez each were hitless in one at bat apiece. Akins flied out in his only at-bat in the game.
Prior to the game, the Lemon Foundation awarded Bohorquez a $500 scholarship for his academic excellence and his four-year contribution to the Tustin baseball program.
