Baseball coach Alex Agortsas named IVC alumnus of the year

"His impact is immeasurable," said Madole, who has been the head coach IVC for 18-plus years and once coached Agortsas. "He was the team captain of the 2008 team. And he wasn't just the captain in a name or a title. He embodied it with his presence and how he went about his business every day. Alex held himself accountable first, and he expected nothing less from his teammates."

 

Agortsas was a catcher at Irvine Valley during the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He works with catchers and hitters and coaches third base for IVC now.

As the starting catcher in 2008, he helped lead the Lasers to their best ever season. IVC set school records for wins in a season (32) and conference wins (14).

The team also hosted its first-ever playoff series. The season ended with Irvine Valley's first Super Regional win.

"With him as our team captain in 2008, it was no wonder that team was ranked as high as it was, hosted the So. Cal. Regionals at IVC, swept East LA and advanced to the Super Regionals," Madole said. "That team ended up setting the record for number of wins in a season. He was the ultimate competitor and never backed down from anyone or any challenge. 

"As his head coach, it was an absolute joy to see him compete and watch him play the game the right way every single day. He was the very first recipient of the prestigious "Iron I" award and deservedly so for our program."

 

Several IVC players from that 2008 team signed with four-year programs, including Agortsas, who earned a scholarship to play at Hawaii Padific University in Honolulu.

 

During the 2010 season at Hawaii Pacific, he was named team captain and helped lead his team to a school record in wins in a season (39) and in conference (27). Hawaii Pacific made it to the Division II Western Regional tournament final.

Agortsas played at Hawaii Pacific for two years and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He went on to receive his Masters in Coaching and Administration from Concordia University in Irvine. He has received two master's degrees.

"He has a tremendous amount of respoect for higher education and has pursued that in his own life," Madole said. "He continually strives to communicate to all of his students and playes the value of earning a degree. He is dependable and consistent, professional and personable."

The former Capistrano Valley High product has also given his time to coach youths in central Orange County, with the local Irvine Ranch Little League as a manager and continues to work with the youngsters around the area to help grow the game.

"Al is a grinder," Madole said. "He will do whatever it takes to get the job done. He is extremely tough in mind, body and spirit. I have never seen him look for a shortcut, or an easy way out. Alex is the epitome of a No. 1 assistant. He has taken total ownership of his position and his impact on this program. I have complete and total trust and faith in him with anything that needs to be done. 

 

The 2020 Irvine Valley baseball team was playing well when the season was shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Lasers had a record of 11-10 and were ranked No. 13 in Southern California.

 

Madole said his staff, including his top assistant were ready to finish 2020 strong.

 

"Alex has become an exceptional college coach," Madole said of Agortsas. "He brings maturity, inspiration, stability and energy to the field everyday. He is creative and insightful with practice plans and new ideas for how to best optimize our time practice time. Alex is able to communicate and connect with players in a way that brings out the best in the players day in and day out. He truly has the players' best interest at heart and they know it. 

 

"He is passionate about the game and is passionate about his own personal growth and development as a collegiate coach. I think he is truly capable of running his own program."