BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Tustin’s Hall Calms Down, Shuts Out Irvine

Tustin pitcher Ronnie Hall was nervous; he admitted it.

Here he was with only three varsity games under his belt, a year removed from junior varsity. There was Irvine, everyone’s choice to win the Sea View League and the No. 9 team in the nation according to USA Today.

So Hall took a big gulp, then shut out the Vaqueros, 6-0, Wednesday.

“I heard all kinds of things about them,” said Hall, a senior. “They got 12 consecutive hits against El Toro and everyone in their lineup was a .300 hitter. My leg was shaking and I was sweating.”

That uneasiness was apparent at the start.

Irvine loaded the bases with one out in the first with the help of Hall, who walked two batters. A double play ended the threat.

The Vaqueros (6-4, 0-1) had two runners on the third and fourth. Each time Hall got out of the jam.

Hall (3-0) finished strong, retiring the last nine batters, for a four-hit shutout. He struck out eight and walked four.

Last season, Hall sat and watched as others got to pitch. The Tillers were loaded with talent and were especially deep in pitchers.

“They wouldn’t pitch me, so I asked to go down to the junior varsity,” Hall said.

Hall was 6-0 for the junior varsity.

Hall also hurt the No. 4 Vaqueros at the plate. He doubled in a run in the first inning, giving the Tillers (6-3, 1-0) a 1-0 lead. Tustin broke the game open in the third by scoring four runs off losing pitcher Tommie Louie (3-1).