Baseball team takes first game in Bakersfield tourney
Jan 29, 2009
The Irvine Valley baseball team ran its record to 2-0 in the early season with a 6-3 victory over LA Pierce in its first game in the Bakersfield Tournament on Thursday.
The story was sophomore right-handed pitcher Matt Reyes, who struck out 10 batters in six innings.
Reyes earned the victory, allowing just one run, four hits and two walks.
He gave up that run - a solo home run - in the first inning and then shut down Pierce after that.
Among Reyes' 10 strikeouts were four in a row and, at one point, five of six batters.
"He had a live fastball, his change was filthy and his slider was super sharp," IVC Coach Kent Madole said. "It was pretty fun to watch."
The Lasers backed Reyes with four runs in the second inning and then single runs in th fifth and the sixth. The big blows in the second were doubles by sophomore catcher Connor Rhoads and sophomore first baseman Jon Saldana.
Sophomore second baseman Sean Williams also stood out at the plate. He finished 3 for 4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Saldana was 2 for 3 with a walk, one run and one RBI and freshman center fielder Thomas Mobley was 2 for 3 with a triple and two runs scored.
Freshman Zak Nuno relieved Reyes in the seventh and went the rest of the way. He earned the save for pitching three innings. Nuno gave up two runs, but struck out four.
"It was a good day," Madole said. "The guys played hard. LA Pierce is a very scrappy team that is always fighting. Our guys played fundamental baseball and got the job done."
IVC plays two games on Friday in the tournament. Freshman Gary Gerhardt is scheduled to start on the mound against Sequoias and freshman Mike Sianez will get the start later in the day against Moorpark.