Jason Dietrich, who was the pitching coach at Irvine Valley from 2003 to 2006 and helped the Lasers reach the Super Regionals in 2005, was recently hired to be the new head coach for the Cal State Fullerton baseball program.
A warrior for the Irvine Valley team, sophomore outfielder Dane Nakatsuka is off to NAIA power Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. Nakatsuka battled back and hit .333 with 10 RBI for the Lasers in the 2021 season.
Catcher Gabe Briones and pitcher Cruz Barrios committed to UC Riverside earlier this week. The duo joined the Irvine Valley squad from Riverside College this past year and were key in helping the Lasers to a successful 2021 season.
The Orange Empire Conference all-conference baseball teams were selected on Thursday and Irvine Valley's Eric Burckle and Dante Faicchio were named to the first team and Shane Kary was picked to the second team.
Irvine Valley comes through in the final game of a challenging '21 season with a 9-7 win at Mt. SAC Friday night. Eric Burckle hit a grand slam to put an exclamation point on the year for the Lasers, who won 12 games overall.
Irvine Valley rallies late, but comes up short, 10-9, in the final home game of the season against Mt. San Antonio at the OC Great Park Stadium Thursday. IVC finishes up the 2021 season at Mt. SAC with a doubleheader on Friday.
Irvine Valley gives up seven runs in the first two innings and falls, 8-3, to Mt. San Antonio in a non-conference game Tuesday night at the OC Great Park. The two teams play again on Thursday at the Great Park at 6:30 p.m.
Irvine Valley goes up early, but falls in a back and forth Orange Empire Conference game, 8-6, at Golden West Tuesday. The Lasers loaded the bases in the ninth with two outs. The two teams play again at GWC on Thursday.
Irvine Valley wins three games and ties another vs. Santa Ana and moves its record to 9-9-2 overall, 8-7 in the Orange Empire Conference. The Lasers, fourth now in the OEC, play a four-game series against Golden West next.
Irvine Valley wins its fifth game in a row and second straight over Santa Ana with a 5-2 victory on Thursday at the OC Great Park. Nate Madole, Austin Chapman and Cruz Barrios combine to limit the Dons to two runs and five hits.
Irvine Valley, down, 6-0 after the top of the fourth inning, rallies behind big games from Eric Burckle, Jack Haggerty, Gabe Briones and Bradley Wilkison to beat Santa Ana, 12-11, at the OC Great Park Stadium Tuesday night.
Irvine Valley wins its second and third straight games over Saddleback in a four-game Orange Empire Conference series. The Lasers get strong starting pitching efforts in Friday's twin bill from Joe Cossette and Ian Green.
Irvine Valley jumps out to a big lead and then falls behind before rallying and holding on in the end for a 16-13 win at the OC Great Park on Wednesday to even its four-game Orange Empire Conference series with Saddleback.
Irvine Valley gives up two runs in the top of the ninth and falls to Saddleback, 5-4, at the OC Great Park Tuesday. The Lasers were three outs away from their biggest win of the season. They will go after it again on Thursday.
Irvine Valley splits a doubleheader with Fullerton on Friday at the Great Park, but wins three out of four in the series. The star of the second game on Friday for IVC was pitcher Dallas Carpenter, who pitched five shutout innings.
Irvine Valley, down early, comes back with a six-run, top of the seventh inning, to tie the game and then scores three runs in the top of the eighth and goes on to win, 11-10. It is the second win in a row for the Lasers.
Irvine Valley had been right there in several games this year. The Lasers run away with a 17-5 Orange Empire Conference victory at Fullerton. Sophomore Dante Faicchio shines with five hits, a double, triple and six RBI.
Irvine Valley rallies late to tie Orange Coast, 3-3, in the first game of a doubleheader at the OC Great Park on Friday afternoon. The Pirates jumped out early in the second game and went on to beat the Lasers, 8-2.
Irvine Valley falls behind early and loses, 5-1, at Orange Coast Tuesday. Eric Burkle had two hits and Dante Faicchio had a double and one RBI for IVC. The Lasers host a doubleheader Friday at the OC Great Park, starting at noon.
Irvine Valley held a 5-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but gave up three runs and ended up falling to Orange Coast, 7-6, in an Orange Empire Conference game at OCC on Tuesday.
Irvine Valley falls, 5-4, in the seven-inning opening game and then loses, 9-4, in the second game, which was a regular nine innings. IVC is back in action next Tuesday, starting a four-game series against Orange Coast.
Irvine Valley leaves the bases loaded in three different innings and Cypress breaks a tight game open by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth inning. Shane Kary and Ethan Johannes each finish the day with three hits for IVC.
Irvine Valley started its season at the OC Great Park against Cypress on Tuesday night under the lights. The Lasers had their chances, but lost to Cypress, 3-0. The teams play again on Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Great Park.
The Irvine Valley baseball team played its final scrimmage on Tuesday at Mt. San Antonio College. The Lasers are now a week away from opening the 2021 season against Cypress at the OC Great Park Stadium on April 13.
Irvine Valley, which opted in for Spring II sports seasons beginning April 13, has released its schedules for baseball, men's/women's tennis and men's volleyball. The baseball team will play home games at the OC Great Park.
Irvine Valley officially opted in for Spring II Sports competition with the CCCAA last week. IVC will play baseball, men's volleyball and men's and women's tennis. Beach volleyball and badminton has the chance to play scrimmages.
Irvine Valley, which had a record of 11-10 before the 2020 season was halted last March due to the coronavirus pandemic, is ranked No. 19 in So. Cal. by the California Community Colleges Coaches Association.