PRIDE OF THE COAST TOURNAMENT : Matthews, Garcia Spark Irvine to Title

An out-of-character pitching performance by Kirk Matthews kept Irvine in the game, but it was up to Aron Garcia to put an end to the Vaqueros’ 12-inning, 3-2 victory over La Mirada in the final of the Pride of the Coast baseball tournament.

Although Matthews, normally Irvine’s relief ace, didn’t figure in the decision, he started and pitched 10 innings Wednesday, allowing six hits, at Estancia High School.

Garcia ended the game, hitting a 12th-inning sacrifice fly that scored pinch-runner Mark Connors.

Connors, running for Chris Grienke, who had doubled to lead off the bottom of the 12th, advanced to third on Jason Minici’s bunt and scored on Garcia’s fly ball.

Although Ryan O’Toole pitched two hitless innings of relief to earn his sixth victory, it was Matthews’ pitching that kept the Vaqueros (12-6) in the game.

Matthews had a rocky start, allowing singles to the first three batters in the game.

Matthews, a right-hander who throws sidearm, allowed a sacrifice fly to Frank Cicero, giving La Mirada a 1-0 lead, but escaped without further damage when Bobby Evans was caught stealing and Junior Michel struck out.

Matthews allowed only two hits over the next nine innings, finishing with five strikeouts and two walks.

“He was terrific today,” Irvine Coach Bob Flint said. “Matthews is a closer, so when he got into the sixth inning I told him, ‘This is when you’re supposed to be out there, so you’re staying in the game.’ ”

Irvine took a 2-1 lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Tommy Louie hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Grienke from third. When Scott Seal tagged up at second on the play and tried to advance, La Mirada first baseman Jeff Hallock took the relay and threw wildly to third, allowing Seal to score.

La Mirada tied it, 2-2, in the sixth inning when Evans tripled and scored on Michel’s sacrifice fly.

Each team managed only one hit over the next five innings before Irvine broke through in the 12th.

In other games:

Corona del Mar 5, Estancia 2--C.W. Ramsay hit two home runs and allowed four hits in six innings in the third-place game at Costa Mesa High.

Ramsay was three for four, with three RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. He hit a two-run home run in the fifth, giving the Sea Kings (10-5) a 3-1 lead, and a bases-empty home run in the seventh.

Orange Lutheran 6, El Modena 4--David Rossi drove in four runs, including three on a fourth-inning home run, for the Lancers (11-3) in the consolation championship game at Estancia High.

Dale Huss and J.P. Presley hit consecutive sacrifice flies in the fourth inning for Orange Lutheran.

Matt Hendren (4-1) pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief, allowing three hits and three unearned runs.

Marina 8, Century 4--Nick Damato had three hits, including two doubles, leading the Vikings’ 15-hit attack in a consolation game at Corona del Mar High.

Sean Connors hit a two-run home run in the third and Nick St. George (3-1) struck out eight for Marina (7-10).

Newport Harbor 4, Norwalk Glenn 3--Senior second baseman Aaron McKown doubled, stole third and scored on a passed ball in the seventh for host Newport Harbor (6-9-1) in a consolation game.