Eagles fall, 2-1

Roger Carlson

COSTA MESA - Estancia High’s hopes for extending a two-game victory

streak were dashed Thursday afternoon as Laguna Beach High junior John

Verdugo, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-hander, used just 84 minutes to rack

up a three-hit, 2-1 Pacific Coast League baseball victory on Estancia’s

diamond.

While the Artists did most of the threatening, stranding four on third

base, among other things, the Eagles had their shot to turn it around in

the sixth, and seventh innings, but were turned away by a combination of

clutch pitching from Verdugo, and a couple of mental mistakes that left

Eagles Coach Doug Deats in a frustrated state.

Estancia pitcher C.K. Green dueled Verdugo inning for inning through

four, but was touched by a two-out 340-foot home run to right-center by

leadoff hitter Kasey O’Keefe, and gave up the winning run in the seventh

when pinchhitter Jeff Packard singled through the box, advanced to third

on a sacrifice and throwing error, then came home on a double-play ball.

“C.K. did a great job,” said Deats. “It was a tough game to lose. Their

kid (Verdugo) just clutched up.”

Estancia evened the game at 1-1 in the the sixth inning when Armando

Ortiz got to first on a passed ball when striking out, advancing to

second on a sacrifice by A.J. Perkins, who beat out a bunt to first when

the throw to first pulled the infielder off the bag.

Green came through with a clutch single to right-center to score Ortiz

and the Eagles were even, only to see a golden opportunity wasted with

two straight baserunners caught at third, both outs a result of a

communication gap more than anything else.

In the seventh the Eagles threatened with Brent Davis’ stinger to left.

He was erased on a fielder’s choice which put Matt Mueller aboard, and

the latter found his way to third on a sacrifice and passed ball, only to

see Verdugo get the last batter swinging.

Justin Lund had Estancia’s other base hit, a one-out single to left in

the third inning. He was left stranded on second.

Verdugo struck out three and walked two. Green K’d five and walked none.

Estancia falls to 6-9, 2-6 in the PCL. Laguna Beach improves to 5-9, 4-4.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Laguna Beach 2, Estancia 1

Laguna Beach 000 010 1 - 2 7 1

Estancia 000 001 0 - 1 3 1 Verdugo and Gagnet; Green and Davis. W - Verdugo, 4-2. L-Green, 3-5. 2B -

Ziegler (LB). 3B - Handley (LB). HR - O’Keefe (LB).