Prep baseball: Final flurry

Barry Faulkner

Costa Mesa High baseball coach Kirk Bauermeister acknowledged after

Friday’s 5-3 victory over Corona del Mar that the Mustangs cashed in on a

little fortuitous return from the misfortune they experienced earlier in

the Pacific Coast League season.

Entering the final two league games, scheduled today and Wednesday,

Bauermeister and his Mustangs must hope for more cosmic kickback, if they

are to secure the PCL’s third and final guaranteed berth into the CIF

Southern Section Division IV Playoffs.

First, Costa Mesa must sweep crosstown rival Estancia, which hosts

today’s 3:15 contest. The rivalry moves to TeWinkle Park Wednesday at 7

p.m., where the Mustangs will host the Eagles.

But, since the Mustangs trail third-place Laguna Beach by one game and

lost 2 of 3 to the Artists in head-to-head league meetings, they would

also need CdM to sweep Laguna this week, in order to claim sole

possession of third and the automatic playoff berth.

Only two Laguna Beach losses and two Mesa wins would enable the

Mustangs to claim a guaranteed berth. If they wind up tied with Laguna

Beach, the Artists own the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Should CdM sweep and Mesa split, there would be a three-way tie for

third between CdM, Laguna Beach and the Mustangs. In that scenario, the

league constitution calls for a mini-league breakdown, based upon all

three schools’ collective record against the other two teams involved in

the tie.

CdM, by virtue of its sweep of the Artists in three league games,

would have the best record in this comparison (4-2). Mesa, which won the

CdM series but lost to Laguna, would be 3-3. The Artists would be 2-4.

CdM, the defending league champion, picked in early March to battle

University for second place, behind favored Northwood, would need a

three-way tie to advance. If Mesa were to sweep Estancia, even a sweep of

Laguna Beach would leave the Sea Kings one game behind the Mustangs. Now

10-13, the Sea Kings won’t be considered for an at-large berth, since

they can’t obtain a .500 record.

With at least one win this week, Mesa (12-12) would assure itself of

at least a .500 record, gaining at-large eligibility.

Though weary of Estancia, which won 2 of 3 last spring from the

Mustangs to claim the perpetual Paul Troxel Trophy that goes to the

series winner, Bauermeister is confident the Mustangs will be

participating in the postseason. Mesa defeated Estancia, 16-0, March 28.

“If we win twice, we’ll be 14-12 and we’ve played a pretty good

schedule,” Bauermeister said. “(The CIF playoff committee) also looks at

how you finish the season. If we win twice, we will have won four in a

row and five of our last six. And, we’ve been to the CIF quarterfinals

two of the last three years.”

Bauermeister said he is uncertain about his pitching rotation this

week.

He said he would not expect senior ace Nick Cabico, who threw nine

innings last week to earn a win and a save, nor sophomore Daniel Cooper,

Friday’s winner, to be ready. If they aren’t ready, sophomore Adam

Jorgenson would get today’s start.

PCL co-leaders Northwood and University square off in a two-game duel

for the title today and Wednesday.