Prep baseball: Eagles stun CdM, 8-7

COSTA MESA - The Estancia High baseball team earned its first

victory of the season in dramatic fashion Tuesday, rallying for four runs

it its final at-bat to stun Pacific Coast League visitor Corona del Mar,

8-7.

After two first-inning Estancia errors contributed to five unearned runs

for the Sea Kings, the visitors returned the favor with two crucial

errors in the seventh.

Estancia senior J.B. Goff led off the seventh by reaching on an error,

then stole second after a popup for the first out. Justin Lund then

lashed an RBI single to score Goff and came around to score himself when

senior Paul Flory doubled down the right-field line to make it 7-6.

Casey Gates worked his third walk of the game to put the winning run on,

but Jermaine Snell grounded to short for what might have been a

game-ending double play.

Gates slid hard into second, however, and Snell motored down the line to

beat the relay throw. The throw, affected by contact with Gates, got away

at first, allowing Flory to score and Snell to carry the game-winning run

into scoring position.

Senior Mitch Valdes followed with a bad-hop single off the

first-baseman’s glove and Snell scored without a throw as the ball

trickled into shallow right field.

“It was big,” C.K. Green said of the victory, the Eagles’ second over CdM

in two seasons.

Estancia (1-6-1, 1-1) moves into a four-way tie for second, while CdM

(2-6, 0-2) drops into last place.

Gates, whom Green prevents from throwing fastballs, went the distance on

the mound for the Eagles, striking out one, walking four and surrendering

10 hits, including a 4-for-4 performance by freshman leadoff man Wess

Presson.

“(Gates) was absolutely incredible,” Green said of his senior ace. “He

just battled.”

Down, 5-0, the Eagles battled back for four in the third, with an

umpire’s help.

Goff doubled to open the frame and back-to-back singles by Jeremy Hauser

and Lund gave the Eagles their first run.

Flory’s fielder’s choice, which forced Lund at second, gave him an RBI,

then a walk and hit batsman loaded the bases. Two balks then plated runs,

much to the dismay of CdM Coach John Emme, who acknowledged the first,

but protested the second, according to Green.

CdM added to the lead with cookie-cutter rallies in the fourth and sixth.

Brandon Lewis walked to begin both threats and advanced on Danny

Whitaker’s sacrifice bunt both times. Presson drove him home each time

with RBI singles, building the three-run lead.

Goff (2 for 3), Lund (2 for 4 with two RBIs), Flory (2 for 4 with two

RBIs and two runs) were the offensive stars for winners, who turned three

double plays and nearly had a fourth.

Blake Contant and Todd Macklin each drove in two runs for the Sea Kings,

who received an RBI single from Lewis.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Estancia 8, Corona del Mar 7

Corona del Mar 500 101 0 - 7 10 2

Estancia 004 000 4 - 8 9 3

Contant, Stockstill (6) and Karpe; Gates and Lund. W - Gates, 1-3. L -

Stockstill. 2B - Goff (E), Flory (E), Macklin (CdM).