Mustangs can’t party yet

COSTA MESA — Steps away from the Costa Mesa High dugout, players smelled the carne asada on the grill.

Behind the backstop, they saw an arch of balloons.

Everything looked to be in place for a celebration. Monday was Cinco de Mayo, but Calvary Chapel took the air out of the Mustangs’ plans to party.

By the time the green and white balloons were inflated, the visiting Eagles deflated Costa Mesa’s shot to clinch its first league title since 1978.

Calvary Chapel won, 9-6, to keep its Orange Coast League title hopes alive with one league game left. The two play again Wednesday for the crown. Both are 8-3 in league.

The Eagles are trying to win their third straight league title. The Mustangs are looking to make history.

“It’s a big game coming up,” said Andrew Niles of Calvary Chapel. “But I think we’re the better team, so we should come out on top.”

Niles batted only once Monday. He made it count, entering as a pinch-hitter with two outs in the top of the seventh.

The senior bashed a two-run home run to deep left-center, turning a two-run lead into a four-run lead. He put the game away after anxiously waiting for his chance.

“You always like to ruin another team’s Senior Day,” Niles said after he hit his first homer.

Calvary Chapel (15-12) didn’t stick around for the tacos. Before the festivities got underway, Costa Mesa Coach Jim Kiefer looked ahead to Wednesday’s game at Vanguard University.

“Return the favor. Return the favor,” Kiefer said. “I’m sure they’ll have something set up for their seniors.”

Calvary Chapel Coach Doug Adams plans to start left-handed ace Steven DeArmand (6-1).

Kiefer refrained from tipping his hand, saying he has four options.

Whoever takes the mound, he will try to prevent the Mustangs (15-11) from entering the playoffs on a losing streak.

Costa Mesa dropped its second straight league contest. The reason, Kiefer pinned it on “two balls we should make plays on and we didn’t, and that opened the door.”

As a result, Calvary Chapel jumped out to a 5-0 first-inning lead on starter Tyler Peterson (7-3). The following inning, two more runs came around, allowing starter Cole Wilson to go after Costa Mesa’s batters.

Only two Mustangs, Nick Pederson and Andrew Millian hit the ball hard. Pederson went the other way to right for a three-run shot off Wilson in the third. Millian blasted a solo shot to center off DeArmand, who came in relief in the sixth.

“We really didn’t want to use him,” Adams said of DeArmand, who pitched 1 2/3 innings for the save. “But our M.O. going into [Monday’s] game was we’re going to play like it’s the seventh game of the World Series. We’re going to do the same [Wednesday]. We’re out to win the thing.”

Calvary Chapel can already smell it.

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Orange Coast League Calvary Chapel 9, Costa Mesa 6

SCORE BY INNINGS

Wilson, DeArmand (6) and Coon; Peterson and Hirsch. W – Wilson, 4-3. L – Peterson, 7-3. Sv – DeArmand. 2B – Coon (CC) 2, Perry (CC), Wilson (CC). 3B – Adams (CC). HR – Niles (CC), Pederson (CM), Millian (CM).

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at david.carrillo@latimes.com.