THE PREPS : BASEBALL / SEA VIEW LEAGUE : Defense Helps Irvine Stay in Race

Irvine performed two important tasks with its 2-1 victory over Santa Margarita.

First, the Vaqueros momentarily halted the Eagles’ bid to run away with the Sea View League race. Had Santa Margarita (6-5, 4-1) won Friday at Irvine, it would have at least a two-game lead on every other team. Instead it is tied with Irvine for the league lead.

Second, the Vaqueros showed their 9-2 overall mark might not be a mirage. Coach Bob Flint tells everybody that Irvine is a young team, but the Vaqueros are not playing like one--at least on defense. They used several key plays--throwing out two Santa Margarita runners at third and turning two double plays, including one that ended the game--to help pitcher Scott Larsen out-duel Ryan Reightley.

“All season we have been a good defensive club,” Flint said. “We’ve had some games with a few errors, but more often these kids have come up with the big plays defensively.”

Larsen (2-1), after watching Irvine squander a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the third, got the runs he needed in the fourth.

After a leadoff single by Shaun Wooley and David Hongslo’s sacrifice bunt, Reightley contributed to his demise by making a bad throw to first on Ethan Gragnano’s infield dribbler, putting runners at first and third. But Eagle Coach Tip Lefebvre said the play was not entirely Reightley’s fault.

“The catcher (Paul Nicotra) yelled for him to go to second,” Lefebvre said. “But he had no play, then had to hurry his throw.”

Mike Walas--who appeared to be out when his bunt attempt bounced up and hit him but had the play ruled foul--singled home Wooley. When center fielder Brian Griffin threw wildly back to the infield, Gragnano ran over to third. He scored the eventual game-winner on Joey O’Toole’s grounder to short.

In another Sea View League game:

Corona del Mar 7, Woodbridge 2--Chad Johnson pitched a complete game for Corona del Mar (6-3-1, 3-2), striking out seven, and blasted a two-run homer. Left fielder Reuben Gulledge hit a two-run triple, and Kevin Stuart hit a bases-empty homer for the Warriors.