Mission Viejo battles to the end, but loses in National Classic title game

FULLERTON – It was a heads-up base-running play.

Mission Viejo’s David Morgan tagged up from second base on a foul pop up caught by third baseman Jack McGrew Valley Christian of San Jose. McGrew made the catch just before he reached the wall separating foul territory and third-base stands, his momentum carrying him away from third base.

Morgan’s head-first slide to third base beat the throw from McGrew to Valley Christian shortstop Nick Marinconz covering third. Valley Christian appealed that Morgan left second base too soon. The second-base umpire ruled that Morgan did leave too soon and called Morgan out for the third out that completed an inning-ending double play.

Mission Viejo’s Hayden Cody reacts after giving up two runs in the third inning against Valley Christian of San Jose in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s David Morgan slides into third under the glove of a Valley Christian player in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Morgan was called out for leaving second base early. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Valley Christian’s Eddie Park throws to the plate against Mission Viejo in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Hayden Cody throws to the plate against Valley Christian of San Jose in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo head coach Chris Ashbach argues a call during the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament against Valley Christian of San Jose at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Drew Baltruweit throws the runner out at first against Valley Christian of San Jose in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Michael Ryhlick pops up in front of Valley Christian’s Ryan Belluomini in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Valley Christian’s Dawson Brigman throws to first against Mission Viejo in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Hayden Cody throws to the plate against Valley Christian of San Jose in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Valley Christian’s Eddie Park throws to the plate against Mission Viejo in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Valley Christian of San Jose celebrates after their 2-1 victory Mission Viejo in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Valley Christian’s Steven Zobac scores past Mission Viejo catcher Brendan Guy in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Hayden Cody sits in the dugout after giving up two runs against Valley Christian of San Jose in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Drew Baltruweit scores past Valley Christian catcher Ryan Belluomini in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mission Viejo’s Alex Jemal throws to the plate against Valley Christian of San Jose in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Valley Christian of San Jose bench cheers during the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament against Mission Viejo at Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton on Thursday, April 5, 2018. Mission Viejo lost 2-1. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Valley Christian thus escaped with a 2-1 win over Mission Viejo on Thursday in the championship game of the National Classic baseball tournament at Cal State Fullerton.

Mission Viejo (13-6) lost a close game to an excellent team and its winning streak ended at eight games. Valley Christian is 16-1-1 and ranked No. 3 in California by CalHiSports.com.

Mission Viejo went 3-1 in the tournament that started for the Diablos with a perfect game pitched by Jake Spillane in their first-round win over Bingham of Utah. Spillane won the National Classic outstanding pitcher award.

The Diablos, ranked No. 6 in the Register’s Orange County top 25, play No. 3 El Toro in two South Coast League games next week. The first of those is at Mission Viejo on Wednesday. Mission Viejo is 1-2 in league and El Toro is 1-1. Capistrano Valley is in first place at 2-0.

Mission Viejo coach Chris Ashbach’s postgame talk with the Diablos players was about turning the page and getting ready for El Toro and the rest of their games in what looks like Orange County’s most-challenging baseball league.

“We’ll focus on what matters,” said Ashbach, in his 21st season as Mission Viejo’s coach. “Not that this one doesn’t matter, but next week matters.”

The Diablos took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Drew Baltruweit walked, advanced to second base on a balk, went to third when Michael Ryhlick reached on an error and scored on Joey Lane’s bunt single.

Valley Christian scored twice in the bottom of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Eddie Park, the Warriors’ sophomore starting pitcher, singled to drive in the runs.

Mission Viejo made a mild threat in the fifth inning when Luke Spillane singled with two outs and stole second base but he was stranded there.

The sixth inning ended with the foul out and appeal double play.

Ashbach argued the appeal call with the second base umpire, as much out of duty as from his doubt that the call that Morgan left second early was correct.

“You’ve got to go fight for your guy,” said Ashbach, smiling. “He might have left early, I don’t know. It’s a pretty tough call to make in that situation, but with four umpires out there they’re probably on it.”

Mission Viejo had National Classic wins of 1-0 over Bingham, 2-1 over St. John Bosco and 2-1 over Jordan of Utah.

The Diablos are not exactly smacking the ball – they had a .274 team batting average going into Thursday’s game – but their ERA was 1.75 going into the Valley Christian game.

“We pitched well like we have all year,” Ashbach said, “and we played great defense. Hopefully the hitting get’s going soon.”

Mission Viejo battles to the end, but loses in National Classic title game

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