Irvine Valley's baseball team finished the 2021 season on a high note Friday night at Mt. San Antonio.
The Lasers dropped the first game of a doubleheader, but rallied for a 9-7 non-conference win in the nightcap.
IVC ended its 2021 campaign with a record of 12-14-2 overall. The Lasers went 9-9 in the Orange Empire Conference and finished tied for fourth place with Saddleback.
"I am really proud of the guys," Irvine Valley coach Kent Madole said. "There were lots of tears with everyone after the second game (of the doubleheader). Nobody wanted to leave. All of the players are really bummed that this year is over.
"It was a special group that went through the most unbelievable and unique challenges. With COVID, our team not having a home field (IVC practiced and played all of its games at the OC Great Park), us starting 0-6 (record), etc. It is definitely one of the most special groups we've ever had."
Down, 4-3, after six innings, Irvine Valley scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning and added four runs in the top of the seventh to take control.
In the seventh, sophomore second baseman Eric Burckle had an RBI single and freshman shortstop Shane Kary hit an RBI double to give IVC a 5-4 lead.
Burckle did more damage in the eighth, hitting a grand slam to score sophomore left fielder Kyle Dobson, freshman right fielder Bradley Wilkison and freshman catcher Conner Hatz.
Irvine Valley went ahead, 9-4, and ended up needing all of those nine runs.
Mt. SAC made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning with three runs, but freshman reliever Ryan Barlow was able to close things out for IVC.
Freshman right-hander Ian Green earned the win for Irvine Valley, moving his record to 3-2 on the year. He pitched eight innings and gave up seven runs on 10 hits and four walks with seven strikeouts.
Barlow earned his second save, throwing one inning and giving up one hit.
Burckle had the big night, going 3 for 5 with a double, the grand slam, two runs and five RBI.
Sophomore center fielder Joey Lapolla also had a game. He hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth to keep IVC in the game. Lapolla went 2 for 4 with a walk, two runs and two RBI.
Kary was 2 for 4 with a walk, two doubles and two runs and Dobson and Wilkison each scored two runs. Dobson contributed two sacrifices.
