Mira Costa Turns Corner in Time for Bay League Play

If the Mira Costa High boys' baseball team ever needs a reminder of its offensive potential, Saturday's performance against Loyola would be the ideal example.

The Mustangs pounded out 15 hits, including at least one by every starter, en route to a 9-3 victory over the visiting Cubs in the second game of a non-league doubleheader. The win sends Mira Costa into Bay League play on a high note after the Cubs won the opening game, 3-1.

"This is what we should be able to do," Mustangs coach Cassidy Olson said. "But this is the first time it's all come together. Usually one guy's hitting well and another's not, then it'll be someone else another game. We've been waiting for this. They're starting to buy in and come together. Hitting's contagious. They start getting the hits and it takes pressure off any one guy."

Junior outfielder Derek Largent highlighted the offensive explosion with a two-run home run to break a 1-1 tie in the fourth inning and then drove in two more runs with a double in the fifth inning.

"Everyone had a part in it," Largent said. "You can't single anyone out. That was the big thing. Everyone did their part today . . .  This was the turning point, I think."

Kyle Demarco, Bret Collins, Jake Jelmini, Lucas Whitehill, Dalton Barge and Largent each had two hits for Mira Costa. Jackson Morrow added a run-scoring double in the sixth inning.

The Mustangs (5-11) broke the game open with four runs in the fifth inning. A sacrifice by Morrow put two in scoring position, and Whitehill followed with a single for the inning's first run. Anthony Lombardo's fly ball to left was dropped and brought in another run. Largent extended the lead to 7-1 with a drive to center that took an awkward bounce past the center fielder to score the final two runs.

"Everything came together," Largent said. "Jackson Morrow putting down that bunt was big. That started it and we just kept rolling from there, one after another."

Whitehill earned his third win of the season with five solid innings on the mound. The senior right-hander held the Cubs to three hits and one run with seven strikeouts and three walks. When Mustang infielders committed three errors to load the bases in the fifth, Whitehill got out of the jam with a strikeout.

Loyola (10-6) threatened again in the seventh when Kevin Swick, who finished 3 for 4 and drove in all of the Cubs' runs, singled in two runs. A batter later, Xavier Borde's grounder to second was bobbled, allowing him to reach first safely, but teammate Angelo La Bruna tried to score from second on the play and was tagged out in a rundown to end the game.

"We're playing together now better than we have the whole year," said Olson, whose team opens league play Wednesday at home against West Torrance. "If we can carry that momentum into league we should be OK."

Mira Costa wasn't as fortunate in the morning game, a makeup game from the Redondo Tournament. Jelmini doubled and scored the Mustangs' lone run in the fourth inning. Loyola scored twice in the seventh for the win.

"We've been losing a lot of close games," Whitehill said. "I think the second game showed maybe the tide is turning. We're going into league on a high note."