Tustin’s Win Can’t Be Ignored

Tustin, a largely ignored team that could only be followed during the regular season by reading box scores, rendered all rankings and seedings and predictions moot for a day with a 7-1 victory over second-seeded Villa Park in a Southern Section Division III quarterfinal game Friday at Villa Park.

It would inappropriate to call the victory an upset. After all, the Tillers displayed poise, confidence and mastery en route to their eighth consecutive victory.

Tustin raced out to a three-run lead in the first inning and rode the pitching Ivan Ramirez, who pitched a three-hitter against the Spartans, the top-ranked team in Orange County for the most of the season.

“They had a great day today,” Villa Park Coach Tom Tereschuk said. “They got it going early and built some momentum. We just weren’t able to turn it around.”

Tustin (19-7-2) has two people to thank for the victory that sent them to the semifinal round for the first time since 1996: Ramirez and Coach Greg Jennings.

It was Jennings who geared his team toward the playoffs since the season opener, scheduling traditional powers such as Esperanza, Foothill and Mater Dei in an effort to make his team battle-tested once the playoffs rolled around. The Tillers played the part against Villa Park (26-3).

“The team that wins the title won’t be the team playing best in March or April,” Jennings said. “It will be the team playing the best in May.”

And it was Ramirez (10-2) who stole the show Friday, striking out only three but staying in command throughout the game. Sean Pritchett’s solo home run in the fifth inning was the only blemish on Ramirez’s pitching line.

Tustin plays Charter Oak, a 6-5 winner over third-seeded Westlake, in Tuesday’s semifinal at a site to be determined.

The Tillers’ early lead came after Christian Martinez singled, went to third on a double by Jose Martinez and scored on a wild pitch. Chris Hanson followed with an RBI single to right-center and eventually scored on Danny Hippert’s single off Villa Park starter Brandon Averill (9-2).

John Restrepo hit a solo home run in the second inning to make it 4-0, and Elias Landeros added a two-run shot in the third to put the game out of reach.

For all their success during the regular season, the Tillers garnered little respect because they played in the relatively weak Golden West League. No one is doubting them now.

“We haven’t been ranked all year, and that doesn’t bother us,” Ramirez said. “It’s the final rankings that count.”