Baseball: Long Beach snaps losing streak with walk-off win over Irvine Valley

Freshman Ryan Dickison (Pacifica HS, pictured) delivered a two-out, pinch-hit walk off single to give the Long Beach City College baseball team a 6-5 non-conference win over visiting Irvine Valley College on Thursday at Joe Hicks Memorial Field. The game-winning hit capped a three-run, ninth-inning rally and snapped a four-game LBCC losing streak.

Both teams ended the contest with 10 hits, but early on, the starting pitching dominated. Long Beach freshman David Aispuro (Jordan HS) and Irvine Valley's Jason Euler opened the game with four scoreless innings.

Irvine Valley (11-17 overall) finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. Jesus Meza hit a one-out double before Scott Kaplan walked. With two outs, Danny Jimenez hit a single to center that was misplayed and allowed both Meza and Kaplan to score. Two batters later, Jimenez came in to score on a wild pitch.

The Vikings matched the Lasers with three runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore Matt de Leon (Cypress HS) drew a one-out walk and moved to third on a single by freshman Jimmy Gosano (Lakewood HS). Sophomore Daniel Catalan followed that with a two-run triple to the gap in right-center field. After freshman Avery Flores (Millikan HS) was hit by a pitch, Catalan and Flores combined for a double steal of home and second base to post the final run of the inning.

The score remained tied all the way until the ninth. Tim Ralston led off the top of the ninth with a single off LBCC sophomore relief pitcher Javier Saenz (Santa Fe HS). Pinch runner Camden Huger promptly stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Bryce Hara followed with a RBI single to put IVC in front 4-3. Hara eventually stole second and was able to come in all the way from second base after a wild pitch to give the Lasers a 5-3 advantage.

But Long Beach was able to rally with four hits in the bottom of the ninth to pull out the victory. Gosano led off with a single to left off IVC reliever Jordan Geiger and advanced to second after Flores walked. With one out, sophomore Justin Moore laced a single through the right side of the infield to bring home Gosano.

Sophomore Edwin Santiago loaded the bases with a single to right off reliever Bryan Castelli. Long Beach then got the tying run in thanks to a sacrifice fly to left from freshman Devan Schermerhorn (Mayfair HS). Freshman Chris Miranda (Bellflower HS) was hit by a pitch before Dickison came up to bat to pinch hit for freshman Manny De La Rosa (St. John Bosco HS).

Dickison hit the second pitch he saw from Castelli cleanly into left field for the walk-off winner. Following the game, Dickison said it was his first walk-off hit ever at any level.

Santiago earned the win to improve to 2-2 after recording the final two outs in the ninth. Aispuro picked up a no decision after allowing three runs (one earned) and five hits over five innings.

Catalan led LBCC at the plate, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, a triple, and a double. Schermerhorn (2 for 4, 1 RBI) and Gosano (2 for 4, 2 runs) also had two hits for the Vikings.

Geiger picked up the loss to fall to 2-5. He allowed three runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings. Hara and Geiger both had two hits for the Lasers.

Long Beach, now 12-14 overall, returns to South Coast Conference action on Tuesday (Apr 10) when it travels to Pasadena City College for a 2:30 pm game.

Photo by Chris Ruiz