Mustangs fall, 11-4

LAGUNA BEACH - Costa Mesa High’s baseball team finds itself

requiring a sweep of Corona del Mar on Monday and Wednesday should the

Mustangs entertain CIF Playoff hopes following an 11-4 Pacific Coast

League loss at Laguna Beach Friday.

The Mustangs (9-14-1, 3-7 in the PCL) fought their way back from a 4-0

deficit with three runs in the fourth inning, only to see a rare call

turn the game inside out.

With three runs in, led by a run-scoring double by Daniel Hunter, and

with a 2-1 count on the batter and two outs, the batter backed out of the

batter’s box on a called strike, and then was called out by the umpire

for stepping out of the box.

“It’s a high school rule rarely called,” noted Mesa Coach Kirk

Bauermeister.

For the Artists (7-11, 6-6), the victory sends them into the CIF

playoffs, the first Laguna Beach baseball team to make it in 37 years.

Starter Kirk Ziegler got the victory. He doubled and hit two home runs to

pace Laguna’s 13-hit attack.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Costa Mesa 000 301 0 - 4 5 1 Laguna Beach 301 301 x - 11 13 1

Stevens, Haubrick (4), Franco (5) and Hunter; Ziegler, Dy-buncio (6) and

Gagnet. W - Ziegler. L - Stevens. 2B - Hunter (CM), Ziegler (LB). HR -

Ziegler (LB) 2, Schissaler (LB) 1, Dy-buncio (LB), 1.