Baseball: Mustangs go south against Northwood

Tony Altobelli

IRVINE - Costa Mesa High baseball coach Kirk Bauermeister was under

the weather heading into Tuesday’s Pacific Coast League matchup with

Northwood. Needless to say, the Mustangs’ 6-1 loss to the Timberwolves

didn’t do much to help that cause.

“The bottom line on the game was they clutched up in all areas of the

game and we didn’t,” Bauermeister said. “They got the key hits, the key

defensive plays and threw the key strikes. They just beat us, plain and

simple.”

The Timberwolves (3-8 in league) overcame an early 1-0 deficit with a

run in the second inning and five runs in the fourth inning.

While that was going on, the Mustangs were in the process of leaving a

small village on the bases. Mesa had six hits and have six additional

batters reach by walks or by being hit with a pitch.

But instead of capitalizing on the opportunities, Mesa (5-5 in league)

stranded 11. “We had our opportunities, but we just couldn’t drive our

runners in,” Bauermeister said. “We just need to get back to playing

better baseball, that’s all.”

Costa Mesa jumped out in front right away. Leadoff hitter Josh Feldman

lined a triple into left-center and scored two batters later on a double

by Mike McGuire.

Northwood tied the game in the second inning when Mike Delong singled,

stole second and scored on an RBI single by Kyle Harper.

“Northwood is definitely not a bad team,” Bauermeister said. “They

played great today, that’s for sure.”

Mesa starting pitcher Ryan Costelloe (3-1) pitched three strong

innings before falling into trouble in the fourth.

A Mustangs’ error, a bunt single and a hit batsman loaded the bases

with no outs.

Harper gave the Timberwolves the lead with an RBI grounder, Dustin

Landeis came through with a two-run single to left field and Steve Lucas

ended the explosion with a two-run double to left.

That was more than enough for T-Wolves’ starter Tom Gray, who

scattered six hits over six innings and struck out five.

Feldman, McGuire, Nick Cabico, Carlos Franco, Billy Halverson and Evan

McGuire each had hits for the Mustangs, who will play the Timberwolves

again on Friday at TeWinkle Park. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Northwood 6, Costa Mesa 1

Costa Mesa 100 000 0 - 1 6 1

Northwood 010 500 x - 6 8 0

Costelloe, Haubrick (4) and Hunter. Gray, Morrison (6) and Gragnano. W

- Gray. L - Costelloe, 3-1. 2B - McGuire (CM), Lucas (N). 3B - Feldman

(CM).