With always tough Orange Empire Conference action starting next week, the Irvine Valley baseball continued to prepare, taking on another one of the top teams in Southern California Tuesday at the OC Great Park.
Irvine Valley faced LA Valley. Both squads had nine wins or more.
LA Valley came out on top, 14-5, in a game where they pulled away in the top of the fourth inning.
The Monarchs improved their record to 10-5 overall, while Irvine Valley dropped to 11-5 overall.
LA Valley put up four runs in the top of the first, but Irvine Valley answered with four runs in the bottom of inning.
But the Monarchs put the game away with six runs in the top of the fourth inning with six runs to take a 10-5 lead.
Irvine Valley didn't help itself in the field with three errors in the game, which accounted for eight unearned runs.
Freshman right-hander Jeremy Wiegman started on the mound and pitched 3.2 innings. He gave up seven runs (four earned) on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts.
Frshman righty Sammy Murphy took the loss in relief, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and three walks with one strikeouts in 3.1 innings.
Andrew Howe picked up the win (4-0) for LA Valley with two scoreless innings as the Monarchs took the lead in the fourth inning.
For the Lasers at the plate, they had seven hits. Freshman designated hitter Jack Haggerty continued his great season with three hits, including a double.
Haggerty is now batting .422 with four doubles, three triples and 15 RBI. He has a .513 on base percentage and .578 sluggin percentage.
Freshman catcher Connor Tallakson went 2 for 4 with a double, one run and two RBI and freshman shortstop Nick Madole was 2 for 4 with one RBI.
The two teams play again on Thursday at LA Valley at 2 p.m.
IVC then hosts Orange Coast next Tuesday at the OC Great Park Field 10 at 2 p.m.
