Prep baseball: Mesa shows Eagles it’s for real

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - The Costa Mesa High baseball team is developing a

Gonzaga complex.

Just like the NCAA basketball tournament bracket busters from Spokane,

Wash., the Mustangs believe there are still plenty of folks who aren’t

ready to take them seriously, despite their string of March victories.

So, after an 8-0 Pacific Coast League-opening triumph at Estancia

Friday improved Costa Mesa to what is believed to be an unprecedented

6-0, some senior standouts stated their case for respectability.

“I know people aren’t taking us seriously, especially in league,” said

Mustang veteran Carlos Franco, who belted a three-run homer and pitched a

perfect seventh inning in relief to cap the three-man shutout. “But when

they play us, they’ll find out we’re for real.”

Similarly, senior catcher Daniel Hunter, who went 3 for 4 with a homer

and three RBIs, and also threw out two runners trying to steal to help

the Mustangs out of a first-inning jam, believes the proof is in the

perfect record.

“We are for real,” Hunter said. “We have a lot of seniors on this team

and we’re very serious. I think we have a great chance of winning league

and also going far in (the CIF Southern Section playoffs). I’m excited to

be playing Mater Dei (Monday at home at 3 p.m.). I think we’re going to

beat (the Monarchs).”

That confidence held firm against the Eagles (3-3), who committed half

of their six errors in the first three innings, which led to two unearned

Mesa runs.

After Mike McGuire doubled in Josh Feldman to open the scoring in the

first, however, Estancia appeared ready to answer back.

J.B. Goff led off the Estancia first with a sinking line single to

left, which got by the left-fielder for a two-base error that left Goff

on third.

The next two Eagles walked, but both were gunned down trying to steal

by Hunter, the latter on the tail end of a strikeout for an inning-ending

double play.

“One (would-be base stealer) had a green light and the other was a

miscommunication,” said Estancia Coach Doug Deats, who formerly guided

the Mustangs and still teaches at Costa Mesa.

The Eagles never got another runner past second base, as Mesa starter

Nick Cabico worked five strong innings, before Ryan Costelloe bridged the

gap to Franco.

Cabico allowed just four hits, struck out five and walked two to earn

his second win of the season.

McGuire, who added another RBI in the sixth, made two fine defensive

plays on ground balls at third base to help produce the Mustangs’ second

shutout of the campaign.

With Cabico throwing up zeros, Mesa’s offense finally broke through in

the fifth.

After Hunter and Steven Shores had one-out singles, Franco clubbed a

high fastball over the fence in left-center field for the first PCL homer

of his three-year varsity career.

“Before we left to come here today, I told this girl I was going to

hit a home run today for her,” Franco said. “I think I scored some points

with her.”

The Mustangs erupted again in the sixth. With one out, speedy leadoff

man Josh Feldman reached on an error for the fourth time. Cabico followed

with a single and, after a groundout, Hunter hammered a two-run

no-doubter over the fence in left-center.

“Playing Estancia is what I live for,” Hunter said. “My Dad (Scott)

went to Estancia and he played football and baseball there.”

Shores went 2 for 4 to help the Mustangs’ eight-hit attack, while

senior catcher Brent Davis continued his fine season with two singles and

a walk in his three plate appearances.

Estancia tries to edge over the .500 mark today when it hosts Cerritos

at 10 a.m.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 8, Estancia 0

Estancia 000 000 0 - 0 5 6

Costa Mesa 101 033 x - 8 8 1

Ortiz, Hart (3), Gates (6) and Davis; Cabico, Costelloe (6), Franco

(7) and Hunter. W - Cabico, 2-0. L - Ortiz. 2B - M. McGuire (CM). HR -

Franco (CM), Hunter (CM).