Triple Threat on the Mound

As Cassidy Olson looked ahead to this season, his first as baseball coach at Mira Costa High, he knew that he would be without All-Bay League pitcher James Glawe, who underwent off-season surgery on his rotator cuff. 

Normally, this would be daunting.

Olson instead felt comfort knowing he had three dependable seniors to anchor his pitching lineup in Robert Parucha, Drew Van Orden and Lucas Whitehill. And that trio gives the Mustangs a solid shot in the Bay League, despite a rough non-league season in which Mira Costa struggled to play consistent baseball and went just 5-11.

"We have three really good seniors anchoring this staff and as long as we play unselfishly behind them we should be able to compete with everyone in the league,'' Olson said.

''Defense has been an area where we've been inconsistent and it's going to be important going forward that we match our defense with where the pitching has been," he added. "There are some really good teams in our league, but we have as much experience and talent as anyone.''

Parucha helped get Mira Costa off to a good start Wednesday, pitching five scoreless innings as the Mustangs opened league play with a 12-0 victory over West Torrance.

The three hurlers have been playing baseball in the South Bay since they were 10 and are good friends. Together are looking forward to their final season at Mira Costa and what could be their most successful season yet.

"We've known each other for a long time, we have a great time together and we do a lot to push each other," Whitehill said. "We're supportive of each other, and at the same time we're competitive and want to improve each game."

The 6-foot-4 Van Orden echoed his teammate's sentiments. "Everyone is experienced and we know that we need to go out there and pitch well every day," he said. "If you don't there will be a guy ready to take your spot."

Having missed most of his junior season because of a torn back muscle and most of his sophomore one due to an elbow injury, Parucha can sympathize with Glawe.

"It's tough to have your main guy (Glawe) out," Parucha said. "I know he's frustrated. I've been there and I know you just have to have a positive attitude."

Parucha's positive outlook is apparent: After his five shutout innings against West Torrance, he casually mentioned that his injury had occurred a year ago to the day.

"It's great to have everyone healthy right now," Van Orden said. We expect to put a run together. We feel like we can put our team in a position to win any game, any time we take the mound, whoever it may be."

Mira Costa's pitching in the early season has been sharp—the Mustangs have a team ERA of 3.69. They have needed to play better defensively and get more run support, but they have improved in both areas over the past two weeks.

"The last few games we have been swinging more confidently and that's important," Whitehill said. "Robert set the tone with a great first game and now we need to follow his effort and keep it up." Whitehill, a 6-foot-6 right-hander, leads in wins, ERA and strikeouts and also has a team-high 17 RBIs.

"Not scoring a lot early put more pressure on us and more intensity," he said. "We knew we had to be sharp to keep us in games, and now if we keep getting guys on base, it just makes everything easier.''

Nothing will come easy in a competitive Bay League that features perennial power Palos Verdes as well as Peninsula and Redondo Union. But the Mustangs draw confidence from knowing that opposing batters will have to face three senior starters who can make life difficult at the plate.