Rybarczyk leads Mesa to win

COSTA MESA — It was wet, muddy, cold and slick at Costa Mesa High, but neither starting pitcher slipped off the mound.

Except for one pitch from Laguna Beach’s Nathan Pickett that he’d like to have back on a rainy Tuesday.

On his way to striking out 11 batters, the right-hander found himself in a precarious spot in the bottom of the fifth inning. He reverted back to his fastball with the bases loaded and the game tied.

John Rybarczyk made him pay for that decision in the Orange Coast League opener.

Rybarczyk jacked a fastball up in the strike zone over the left-center field fence for his first career grand slam, lifting the Mustangs to an 8-3 victory.

The shot was Rybarczyk’s second game-winning home run of the season. He said he was glad it occurred in the Mustangs’ debut in their new league, and that it helped starter Garrick Williams (2-1) pick up the victory.

For the second straight week, the senior right-hander went the distance for Costa Mesa (6-3). This time Williams prevailed.

“He battled,” said Rybarczyk of Williams, who in seven innings struck out seven and gave up three runs and five hits. “We didn’t really help him out a lot on defense [which committed four errors]. It’s sweet when you can pick him up.”

Before Costa Mesa broke the game open, 7-3, it was catcher Matt Pisarski giving Williams a boost.

Just like Dominick Robusto had reached third base in the third inning and scored on a wild pitch to give Laguna Beach a 3-2 lead, Robusto was looking to get back to third in the top of the fifth.

Pisarski made sure to stop Robusto.

After swiping second for the second time, Robusto took off for third. But Pisarski threw a laser to third baseman Andrew Millian. Awaiting Robusto was Millian’s glove.

Four pitches later, Williams got out of the inning, which was one of his last four of shutout ball.

Williams pulled this off on a day he described as not having “my good stuff at all.” To Costa Mesa Coach Jim Kiefer that said a lot about his ace’s ability to deliver in tough pitching conditions.

“A mark of a good pitcher is to be able to pitch through that,” Kiefer said. “I thought he made some good pitches late in the game. He changed speeds really well. He kept their hitters off balance. They’re a good fastball hitting team.”

The Breakers (4-4) are more than that if you ask Pickett.

Upset after Laguna Beach dropped to 0-3 on the road, Pickett (1-3) pointed out why it happened.

“Missing spots. Not pitching like we can. Not playing like we can,” he said after allowing seven hits, walking three and hitting one batter. “We are a way better team than any team in the league.”

Laguna Beach came out like a league contender, like it was last year in the Pacific Coast League as it finished one game out of first place.

But a 2-0 lead for Laguna Beach after the first inning turned into a 2-2 tie the following inning. The same happened in the third, with Laguna Beach going up 3-2, before Costa Mesa tied the game, 3-3, on Millian’s solo blast.

But the biggest blast on a rainy day belonged to Rybarczyk. Williams expected it.

“That’s the big fella right there,” said Williams of the 6-foot-3 senior. “We always rely on him to get us going when we’re down.”

On a dicey mound, Williams didn’t lose his footing. But Rybarczyk made sure to pick him up anyway.

Orange Coast LeagueCosta Mesa 8,

Laguna Beach 3

Score by Innings

LB 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 - 3 5 0

CM 0 2 0 1 4 1 x - 8 7 4

Pickett and Stansbury; Williams and Pisarski. W -- Williams, 2-1. L -- Pickett, 1-3. 2B -- Pisarski (CM), Waldron (CM). 3B -- Pierce (LB). HR -- Millian (CM), Rybarczyk (CM).