Runs, Errors Add Up to Victory for Rancho Santiago

Rancho Santiago used two three-run innings and four Citrus errors to beat the Owls, 6-4, in the Southern California baseball playoffs Sunday at Los Angeles Harbor College.

The victory marks the third time in seven years the Dons (38-11) have advanced to the State tournament, which starts Saturday at Cerritos College.

“Now it’s a brand new season,” Rancho Santiago Coach Don Sneddon said. “We were the dark horse as the 10th seed. We’re kind of like the uninvited guest who’s there to give a good time.”

Freshman Kirk Irvine (8-1) held the Owl bats in check, striking out eight and allowing four earned runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

“I was just trying to throw strikes,” Irvine said. “My fastball was not as hard as I wanted. I was trying to stay mellow and not let the emotion get the best of me. It was tough.”

“(Citrus) is one of the finest hitting clubs,” Sneddon said. “Irvine did a great job to hold them to only four runs.

“We wanted to attack their defense because we knew they were struggling, so we got some bunts down.”

Rancho Santiago fell behind in the third inning, when Citrus (36-7) scored three runs on four hits.

The Dons answered in the bottom of the third, scoring three unearned runs without managing a hit. Citrus pitcher Isaac Hernandez threw away Joe Fraser’s sacrifice bunt attempt, scoring Corey Doll and Matt Kastelic. Daryle Ward followed with a sacrifice fly to score Fraser from third and tie it, 3-3.

Rancho Santiago jumped ahead for good in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs on three hits. Doll singled to score Jamie Estrada and scored on a balk one out later. Darren Troilo singled to drive in Kastelic with the Dons’ final run of the inning.

Irvine got out of a jam in the sixth, allowing only one run, and settled down until the eighth. With two outs in the eighth, Irvine gave up a double and a walk before being replaced by Brian Martineau. Martineau struck out Bob Antillon to end the threat and retired the side in the ninth for his third save of the season.

Kastelic had three hits and scored twice, and Doll had one hit and two runs scored for the Dons.