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Sports

Back in Bay League Play, Mira Costa Cruises

Mustangs make quick work of Peninsula, keep pace with Palos Verdes atop league standings.

That Redondo Tournament loss to Simi Valley over the weekend apparently was only a minor setback for the Mira Costa High Mustangs, who returned to Bay League play on Wednesday and were right back to the winning formula that has them in a first-place tie with Palos Verdes.

Mira Costa used a stellar outing from Robert Parucha and a slew of base hits to crush visiting Peninsula 10-0, dominating the game from the start. "I think when we came out and score four runs in the first inning, it kind of set the tone," Coach Cassidy Olson said.

Kyle Demarco started that rally, reaching base when he hit a fly ball that was dropped by a Peninsula outfielder. Jake Jelmini then singled to put runners at first and second, and Lucas Whitehill doubled to drive in Demarco and Jelmini. Anthony Lombardo later drove in two more runs with a double.

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"Everything was really good it all finally came together," catcher Ian Neal said. ''Our dugout was loud. Our pitchers pitched really well. Everyone was making really good contact. And that is essential.

''Honestly, I don't think anything could have gone better," Neal added. "I think that was the culmination of everything coming together, us just playing as well as we can.''

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After that four-run first inning the Mustangs cruised the rest of the way, with Parucha on the mound.

"My strategy is to just go out and throw strikes, and throw the ball right down the middle. That's what I do every time,'' he said.  ''All of them are good hitters. They are a good team they just didn't get any runs."

The Mustangs play at Peninsula on Friday, then have rival Redondo next week before facing Palos Verdes the final week of the regular season. Their focus, though, remains on the Panthers, who are just 1-4 and rank fifth in runs allowed in the six-team Bay League.

"We're just going to keep working hard and not underestimate them," Neal said. "They're going to be a totally different team at home. You know, they got the wind up there and they know how it plays more than we do."

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