PREP BASEBALL : Southern Section 3-A Playoffs : Bringas’ Single in 10th Inning Gives Irvine 4-3 Victory Over Tustin

Shortshop Marlon Bringas singled in the winning run with two out in the 10th inning to give Irvine High School a 4-3 victory over Tustin in a Southern Section 3-A baseball playoff game Friday at Irvine.

Senior Jim Huntsberger (4-2) picked up the victory for Irvine (18-8). He pitched eight shutout innings after relieving starter John Bretza in the third. Huntsberger scattered 5 hits, struck out 7 and did not walk a batter.

With two out in the 10th, Eric Degen reached first on an infield hit. George Koutures reached second on an error by right fielder Rolf Graieda, Degen stopping at third. Bringas followed with a single to left off losing pitcher Dan Baker (4-4), who relieved starter Monte Jones in the seventh inning. Tustin (16-10) scored two runs in the first inning off Bretza. Eric Grove drove in one run with a single; another scored on an error.

Irvine, trailing 3-0 in the sixth, tied the score with three runs. Scott Vollmer walked, Randy Martin singled and Anthony Hernandez walked to load the bases. A wild pitch scored Vollmer, and Mike Nau followed with a two-run single.

Irvine will play El Centro Central on Tuesday.

Saddleback 11, Pioneer 10--Sean Therien walked with the bases loaded to force in the winning run at Saddleback. Paul O’Hearn (2-0) gave up 5 hits in 4 innings and went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs to lead the Roadrunners (20-6), and Brad Zentner went 3 for 3 with an RBI. Pioneer finished the season at 13-7-2. Saddleback will play Coachella Valley on Tuesday.

El Toro 9, Arroyo 1--El Toro had hit only two home runs all season, but Tim Jurkowski, Sean Drinkwater and Bobby Gaskins each hit a home run at Covina. Drinkwater went 3 for 4, drove in 2 runs and scored 3 runs for the Chargers (15-13).

Center fielder Dave Nemeth was also 3 for 4, drove in a run and scored a run. Jeff Stark (5-3) allowed 3 hits, struck out 3 and walked 2 to get the win. El Toro will meet Estancia (17-9) in the second round on Tuesday.

Pacifica 5, Orange 2--Pacifica scored three runs in the sixth inning to rally from a 2-1 deficit at home. Todd Long (10-4) pitched a 3-hitter, giving up 2 unearned runs, for the victory. Kevin Ashworth went 2 for 3 with an RBI for Pacifica (19-7). Orange is 14-12. Pacifica will play California on Tuesday.

Laguna Hills 8, Kennedy 5--Host Laguna Hills took a 4-0 first-inning lead and was never threatened. Mike Smedes and Mike Helm each had RBI singles in the inning, and the Hawks (17-8) scored two more on errors. Smedes (8-2) went the distance, striking out eight. It was Smedes’ eighth straight victory and the 14th in a row for Laguna Hills, which will play Dana Hills on Tuesday.

Dana Hills 10, Montclair 0--Dan Geaney and Chris Delfs each drove in two runs at Montclair. Ricky Whipple (4-4) threw a 4-hitter, striking out 1, for the victory. Lance Marks, John Clarke and Denny Papp each had three hits for the Dolphins (15-12).