Sea Hawks Can't Contain Mira Costa, Again

There was a day off to rest, to recover, to forget. Or, try to, on all three fronts. But momentum still may have played a factor in Redondo Union High's 11-3 loss to Mira Costa on Friday, which came on the heels of a nightmarish loss to their rivals in which they blew a four-run lead in the final inning.

The Sea Hawks got off to a good start, as second baseman Daniel Marquez led off the game with a single off the glove of Mira Costa pitcher Lucas Whitehill. Marquez then stole second before scoring on a double by Nick Ridio, giving Redondo a lead. But the next three Sea Hawks then went down on strikeouts, the first of 12 for Whitehill, and the game got away from them not long after that.

Pitcher Chris Jump threw a scoreless first, but gave up the lead in the second. With the bases loaded, third baseman Kyle Esparanza made a nice play at third for a force out, but followed it up with an errant throw to first which allowed the first of two Mustangs runs to score in the inning.

Then in the third, the Mustangs scored six runs to put the game away. Jake Jelmini singled and Whitehill reached on an error. Jackson Morrow drove in a run with a double, Bret Collins and Anthony Lombardo drove in runs with singles, and Mira Costa extended its lead to 5-1 before Jump was able to record an out in the inning.

Mira Costa kept the offense coming as Derek Largent singled past the outstretched glove of shortstop Alex Mistuloff, bringing in two more runs. After Jump struck out Garrett Fedor, Largent scored as Kyle Demarco hit a bloop double down the right field line. Michael Heredia came in for Jump to get the final out of the inning, but the damage had been done. Mira Costa led 8-1.

"Big innings are just deflating," Coach Bradey Thurman said.  "We came out with good intensity and I was really proud of how they practiced Thursday after Wednesday's loss, this team is resilient, but it just was a tough day."

Whitehill, meanwhile, was plowing through the Sea Hawks' lineup.

"It's not falling together right now for us," Esparanza said. "Compared with last year, we're hitting the ball better and the coaches have helped us and are owed a lot of credit.  We just need to make the routine plays in the field to give ourselves a chance."

Marquez and Jump had two hits apiece for the Sea Hawks, who fell to 2-6 in Bay League play and 10-16 overall.  They will finish up the season with two games next week against Peninsula.