Cole Garvey
Online Sports Editor
In a 9 inning thriller, the Mira Costa Mustangs overcame the West Ranch Wildcats 2-1.
The Mira Costa’s baseball team defeated the West Ranch Wildcats 2-1 in a home game on May 18 in the first round of The California Interscholastic Federation playoffs.
“Against West Ranch, it took a lot of guts to pull out a win, considering wo only got two hits. Both Kyle and Merrick made the clutchest plays of the year which gave us the momentum to win,” senior Chris Penna said.
The Mustangs started the game off quick with Junior Chase Meidroth getting on base, and scoring on a wild pitch putting Costa up 1-0 in the bottom of the first. Junior Christian Bodlovich started on the mound for the Mustangs, and pitched lights out getting Costa out of a dangerous jam in the third inning.
“Our pitching and defense was great which kept us in the game,” Penna said.
The game began to turn into a pitchers duel with Bodlovich and the opposing pitcher getting quick 1-2-3 innings. In the top of the fifth, the Wildcats rallied, and were able to get runners on base, and score on an RBI single with one out. After this, Bodlovich regained his composure and struck out the next two batters to limit the damage and finish the inning tied up at 1-1.
“We had to change the speeds and locations to keep them off balance at the plate,” Bodlovich said
The Mustangs’ offense was not able to get anything going in the 5th and 6th innings, but their defense shined, with excellent pitching from Bodlovich who forced strikeouts, as well as routine ground and fly balls. Bodlovich was later pulled and replaced by junior Merrick Baldo in the seventh, after pitching an impressive game. Baldo faced some trouble in the top of the seventh, with a runner on third, but sophomore Kyle Karros was able to field a ground ball and get the runner at first for the third out, saving a run.
“All I had to do was throw strikes and my defense backed me up 100 percent,” Baldo said.
Again, this time in the bottom of the seventh, Costa’s offense couldn’t get any runners on base to score, leaving the game at 1-1 heading into extra innings. Both Baldo and Karros came in clutch late, with game saving plays at home. In extras, both offenses weren’t able to score until the bottom of the ninth. With senior Vince Malcom on second, junior Nick Carpino came up to bat and layed down a bunt towards the third baseline. The Wildcat third baseman overthrew his throw to first, allowing Malcolm to trot home for a Costa win.
“I had to just do my job and get the bunt down to help my team. When the ball went past the first baseman there was no better feeling,” Carpino said.
The Mustangs now 28-3 overall will face the Gahr Gladiators in an away game on Tuesday, May 22. The Mustangs are looking forward to this postseason rematch against the Gladiators to keep their CIF championship dreams alive.
“Against Gahr, we gotta hit. We got Joey on the mound who has been solid all year. The more runs we score the better obviously which puts pressure on the other team,” Penna said.
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