SEA VIEW LEAGUE BASEBALL : Woodbridge Beats Tustin Again to Secure Playoff Berth

Woodbridge assured itself a berth in the Southern Section playoffs, while Tustin might be sitting on the sidelines after dropping a 7-5 decision to the Warriors in a Sea View League baseball game Friday at Tustin.

It was the second loss of the season to Woodbridge for Tustin, winner of the last four Sea View League championships under Coach Vince Brown, now in his first year as Woodbridge coach. It was Brown’s first return to Tustin since taking over the Woodbridge program.

Woodbridge (20-4, 9-3) moved into a tie for the league lead with Irvine, after the Vaqueros lost, 5-1, to University.

The defeat left Tustin in fourth place, half a game behind University. The Tillers need two victories in their last two games and a loss by University to advance. If the two teams tie for third, the Trojans would advance because it swept Tustin in two regular-season games.

Paul Horning’s two-run home run in the seventh inning was the difference for the Warriors. It came after Mike Guymon (6-1) pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

Brown almost pulled his senior ace.

“I rolled the dice,” Brown said. “I was thinking of taking (Guymon) out, but they really never hurt him. He hurt himself more than anyone.”

Guymon was coasting along with a 5-1 lead after Ryan Lemmon’s three-run double with two out in the fifth.

But Tustin rallied. The Tillers (14-9-1, 7-5) got a run in the fifth, then added two more in the sixth when Ryan Winmill scored on a Woodbridge error and Tim Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk. Guymon then struck out Derek Baker to end the inning.

“We had some chances,” Tustin Coach Tim O’Donoghue said. “They stepped it up when they had guys in scoring position. We just didn’t get it done.”

Horning delivered his two-run shot with one out in the seventh.

Tustin got a run in the bottom of the inning when Ronnie Hall led off with a double and scored on a Woodbridge error with two outs. However, Guymon retired Collins to end the game.

Hall (7-2) struck out six but gave up 10 hits. It was his first loss after four consecutive victories.