Mustangs Pull Complete Sweep of Rival Redondo

The Mira Costa High Mustangs picked up right where they left off against their rival Redondo Union, the offense providing more than enough support for starter Lucas Whitehill on Friday in an 11-3 win over the Sea Hawks, just as it had in scoring eight runs in the final inning to steal a victory two nights earlier.

"Lucas had good command of the game today and it was an excellent team hitting day with everyone chipping in," Coach Cassidy Olson said.

Redondo's Daniel Marquez singled to lead off the game, would then steal second base and score on a double by Nick Ridio to give the Sea Hawks a 1-0 lead. But with Ridio in scoring position, Whitehill settled down and struck out the heart of the order, punching out Chris Jump, Dylan Hatch and Jake Jimenez.

In a scoreless second inning, Whitehill would strike out two more Sea Hawks. The senior right-hander then had a perfect third inning, striking out two more batters to give him seven among the first nine outs that he recorded.

The Mustangs' offense provided the run support starting in the second inning, when Bret Collins and Anthony Lombardo singled against Redondo right-hander Chris Jump, who had been on the mound when Mira Costa came back from a four-run deficit in the seventh inning in that improbable 14-10 victory.

Dalton Barge then put down an excellent bunt to advance the runners, and was able to reach safely when Jump lost his footing fielding the ball. Derek Largent and Garrett Fedor then drove in runs with ground balls, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead.

Mira Costa added six runs in the third inning, getting a RBI double from Jackson Morrow, RBI singles by Collins and Lombardo, a two-run single by Largent and a run-scoring double by Kyle Demarco.

"I just tried to stay relaxed and protect the plate when I was behind in the count," said Collins, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.  "We have been working really hard at the plate and we're really coming through now."

The six-run third gave Whitehill more than enough cushion to cruise through the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth, he allowed a single and a walk, but struck out his 12th batter of the day before being replaced by Lombardo after 5 1/3 innings.   

"We sometimes say that Lucas [Whitehill] is 'effectively wild' he's not always overpowering, but he's around the plate and with his long frame and delivery it's difficult for hitters to pick the ball up," Olson said.

The Mustangs would put three more runs on the board in the fifth with Demarco driving in two runs on a single and Whitehill with RBI chopper over the third baseman's head.  

"We really wanted these games against our rivals," catcher Ian Neal said.  "Lucas has that crazy delivery and makes it hard on hitters. He really had it going and fooled them on a lot of third strikes."

Mira Costa moved to 7-1 in Bay League play and will finish the regular season with two games against league-leader Palos Verdes.

"Top to bottom, we are hitting consistently, it's important we keep that up heading into next week," said Jake Jelmini, who went 2 for 3 and started the six-run rally in the third inning with a base hit to right. "We have high expectations, Palos Verdes has such a good team and we're going to have to play small ball with them, we know it's going to be close."