Irvine Valley's baseball team got its 2022 season off on a high note with a dramatic, 4-3 win over Long Beach City on Thursday night at the Orange County Great Park Stadium.
Freshman catcher Adrian Reveles hit a single into left field to bring in freshman designated hitter Jack Haggerty in the bottom of the 11th to give the Lasers the victory.
It was a back and forth game throughout with both squads having a number of chances to take leads.
JT Mendoza hit a single up the middle in the top of the second inning to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead.
IVC answered with two runs in bottom of the second. Freshmana second baseman Nolan Cusey's sacrifice bunt scored Reveles.
And then freshman left fielder Noah Madole came around a bad pick off throw at second and came around to score.
Long Beach City added single runs in the top of the third and top of the fourth innings to go up, 3-2.
But Irvine Valley tied things up in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Freshman center fielder Bradley Wilkinson struck out swining, but the ball got away from the catcher and Wikinson was able to reach first base with Noah Madole racing home to score.
The game stayed tied after that even though both teams had runners in scoring position over the next several innings.
Irvine Valley closed things out in the bottom of the 11th.
Haggerty doubled down the left field line to start the inning.
After an out, freshman third baseman Shane Kary was walked. Haggerty moved to third base on a fly out by freshman first baseman Casey Kudell.
Kary stole second to put runners on second and third for the Lasers.
And then sophomore Joey Lapolla pinch hit and worked an 0-2 count into a walk to load the bases.
Reveles singled to left center off of Long Beach reliever Reed Passmore to end the game.
Freshman right-hander Austin Chapman earned the win for the Lasers. He went one inningg without allowing a run.
Passmore took the loss after going five innings in relief and giving up that one run in the 11th on three hits, four walks and seven strikeouts.
The Lasers had seven hits in the contest and were led by Haggerty, who went 2 for 4 with a double, a walk and a run scored, Noah Madole, who was 1 for 3 with two runs and a walk and Kary, who walked three times.
The two teams play again on Saturday at Long Beach City at noon.
