Mustangs show some rust

Steve Virgen

There were moments that would make most coaches cringe and wince, as

if to be in agony. Yet, Costa Mesa High Coach Doug Deats took a look

at the bright side, after the Mustangs’ baseball team suffered a 10-2

loss to Los Amigos in the first round of the Newport Elks Tournament

at Costa Mesa Friday. It was the season opener for both teams.

“If I was giving a letter grade, I would give us a C,” Deats said.

“I don’t think it was tragic. I still think we can be a pretty good

team. That first inning was tough.”

The Lobos scored six runs in the first inning.

After a slow start, Mesa junior Daniel Cooper settled down,

allowing just one run, and striking out four.

“We had a real nice scrimmage the other day and I thought we would

be ready to play,” Deats said. “But it just didn’t happen.”

Costa Mesa junior pitcher Justin Peterson completed two no-hit

innings and struck out four in the fifth and sixth. But Los Amigos

went on to score three runs in the final inning, which included a

two-run home run over centerfield by 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior Jose

Cardoza.

Junior Adam Jorgenson, the designated hitter for the Mustangs,

collected an RBI single in the first inning to get Mesa on the

scoreboard. However, Costa Mesa hit into four double plays and the

Lobos recorded yet another double play because of a base-running

error by the Mustangs.

Mesa sophomore shortstop Alex Pisarski cranked out a two-out RBI

double to score senior Nate Hunter in the third, but three hits over

the final four innings was not enough.

The Mustangs return to Newport Elks Tournament action Tuesday and

will play Estancia on the latter’s diamond.

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Newport Elks Tournament

First round Los Amigos 10, Mesa 2

Score by Innings

L. Am 610 000 3 -- 10 8 5

Mesa 101 000 0 -- 2 6 3

Cardoza, Navarra (5) and Muniz; Cooper,

Peterson (5), Gonzalez (7) and N. Hunter.

W -- Cardoza, 1-0. L -- Cooper, 0-1. 2B --

Mercado (LA), Pisarski (CM). HR -- Cardoza

(LA)

*--*