Prep baseball: Back to basics

Barry Faulkner

COSTA MESA - While spending most of his baseball career, both as a

player and a coach, across town at Costa Mesa High, Doug Deats developed

a healthy respect for the proud tradition of Estancia baseball.

Now, three seasons after stepping down at Mesa, Deats has accepted the

challenge of attempting to restore the luster Estancia has lost with a

five-year absence from the CIF playoffs.

Deats, who took over a Mesa program in a similar malaise in 1994 and

guided the Mustangs to the playoffs two of his final three seasons, began

by shaping up the dilapidated diamond.

“It looks as good as I’ve ever seen it,” Deats said of the Eagles’

ballpark, which had declined to the point where some coaches considered a

road game against the Eagles a safety risk.

He also tapped directly into one former tradition, reinstating the early

morning running routine initiated decades ago by then-coach Ken Millard.

“That’s a neat tradition,” Deats said of the conditioning sessions the

players embraced without protest. “I’m not saying it will mean more wins,

but it’s a neat tradition.”

Converting playing conditions and a renewed work ethic into success is

Deats’ ultimate challenge. He’ll attempt to begin making progress with an

11-man squad which includes five sophomores.

Senior returners C.K. Green, David Akiva and Matt Mueller can aid in the

transition from back-to-back seasons of 4-21 and 3-20-1.

Green, who will pitch and play shortstop, was a second-team All-Pacific

Coast League selection last spring, when he hit .366 with two homers and

nine RBIs.

“He’s a great kid who is working his butt off,” Deats said of the son of

Tim Green, who resigned after two seasons at the helm of his alma mater.

Akiva, the Eagles’ biggest power threat, will pitch and play first base.

The left-hander will hit in the middle of the order, according to Deats.

Mueller will start in center field.

Junior Armando Ortiz, of whom Deats has heard glowing reports, won’t join

the team until after Saturday’s CIF Southern Section Division IV boys

soccer title game.

“I haven’t seen him yet, but from everything I hear, he’s probably our

best player,” Deats said of the third-year varsity veteran. “He’ll play

shortstop and pitch.”

Sophomore Jordan Hart, whom Deats believes has outstanding potential,

could also see some time on the mound. He’ll spend most of his time in

right field, but he can also play first when Akiva pitches.

Junior Brent Davis will start behind the plate, backed up by sophomore

Justin Lund.

A.J. Perkins is expected to start at third base, while fellow sophomore

Casey Gates is the starting second baseman.

J.B. Goff, yet another sophomore, opens with the job in left field.

Senior Anthony Rubi provides what little depth the Eagles have.

“Right now, we have 20 kids in the whole program, which is a little

disappointing,” Deats said. “We’ll try to field two teams.”

Deats will be assisted by 1999 Costa Mesa graduates Rob Gloster and Chris

DeSandro, both of whom earned All-Newport-Mesa District honors at the

shortstop and second baseman, respectively, on the Mustangs’ CIF Division

III quarterfinalist last spring.

The Eagles open Friday at Bolsa Grande (3:15 p.m.) in the first round of

the Costa Mesa Tournament.

Estancia baseball roster

4/14 Justin Lund So.

5 A.J. Perkins So.

8 Matt Mueller Sr.

9 Armando Ortiz Jr.

10 C.K. Green Sr.

21 J.B. Goff So.

25 Jordan Hart So.

33 Casey Gates So.

41 Brent Davis Jr.

42/53 Anthony Rubi Sr.

44 David Akiva Sr.

Coach: Doug Deats