Baseball: Beckman’s memorable bus ride

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The first clues that the Irvine Beckman baseball team was having bus problems on Tuesday for its Southern Section Division 3 second-round playoff game against Colton came in a tweet from standout pitcher James Kaprielian.

‘Freshman throwing up on bus before a playoff game.’

Then the bus had to stop twice because of overheating.

Beckman player Grant Barring tweeted, ‘The most ridiculous bus ride I’ve ever been a part of.’

Beckman was able to defeat Colton, 3-0, behind Navy-bound Connor Deneen, who threw a four-hitter.

Said Coach Kevin Lavalle: ‘I was thinking this was either going to be our excuse or something we’re going to be talking about for years about our crazy bus ride.’

Kaprielian’s final tweet: ‘Through the throw up, broken bus and the heat, we got the win.’

-- Eric Sondheimer