PREP BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Irvine’s Defensive Plays Help O’Toole Top Tustin

It took Irvine pitcher Ryan O’Toole an inning to find the plate. And even when he did, he had to rely on some early defensive gems by the Vaqueros in their 6-3 victory over Tustin Friday in Irvine.

But O’Toole (4-0) shook off a wild start in the first, when he hit two batters, one of which led to a run, and used three inning-ending double plays, including one by right fielder Scott Seal, whose throw to the plate got Tustin’s Ronnie Hall.

“Some games I have the pop in my pitches and some I don’t,” said O’Toole, who settled down and went 6 1/3 innings before Tommie Louie came on for the save in the seventh. “Usually I’m able to get the ball by guys. Regardless, this was a big win for us.”

The victory allowed Irvine, the county’s No. 2 team, to move into a first-place tie with Woodbridge and avenge an earlier 6-0 loss to the Tillers (12-7-1, 5-3 in league).

Louie drove in two runs and Ryan Jones homered for the Vaqueros (15-6, 6-2), who twice rallied from one-run deficits before taking the lead in the third.