The Bay League got off to a rough start in the CIF Southern Section-Toyota Division 2 championships with Mira Costa emerging as the lone team to advance to the second round but the Mustangs are continuing their late-season surge.
The loss of a vital cog in the Mustang machine seems to have pulled to team together even closer as Mira Costa (17-14) is using key hits and defensive plays in advancing to the quarterfinals. First year head coach Cassidy Olson’s squad upset fourth-seeded Cypress 8-3 in the second round Tuesday and will travel to face No. 5 La Mirada (23-8) tomorrow at 3:15 p.m. Semifinal games will be played Tuesday and the championship game is slated for 4:30 p.m. Saturday, June 5 at The Diamond, home of the Lake Elsinore Storm minor league club.
With the score knotted at three in the top of the fifth inning, Mira Costa catcher Jackson Morrow made a game-changing play holding on to the ball after collision at the plate for the third out on an 8-6-2 putout.
In the bottom of the inning, Lucas Whitehill slammed a two-run home run to put the Mustangs ahead for good. Whitehill also had a double in his 3-for-3, three RBI performance. Dalton Barge, Kyle Demarco, Sean Isaac and Anthony Lombardo had two hits each for Mira Costa.
If the Mustangs win tomorrow, they will face the winner of the Glendora-Valencia game in the semifinals.
After winning wild-card games, Bay League runner-up Palos Verdes (19-11) lost Damien 6-3 and Peninsula (15-17) fell to top-seeded Glendora 4-1 to end their seasons.
In Division 4, No. 6 El Segundo (23-9) beat Garey 10-3 Tuesday and hosts No. 3 St. Paul (22-9) tomorrow.
Eight-seeded Torrance (21-9) defeated Savanna 9-5 in the second round and will travel to take on top-seeded Bishop Amat (27-3) tomorrow.
South (19-9-1) completed its season with a 6-5 loss to Calvary Chapel in a wild-card game.
Softball
Mira Costa (17-15) gave second-seeded Redlands (23-6) all it could handle in the second round of the CIF Division 2 playoffs Tuesday. But visiting Redlands broke a 3-3 tie scoring three runs in the top of the seventh inning to eliminate the Mustangs 6-3.
Freshman Taylor Glover slugged a three-run triple to tie the score in the bottom of the sixth inning and Meghan Vonbehren went 2-for-3 for Mira Costa.
The Mustangs opened the post season with a convincing 5-1 victory over host La Mirada. Amanda Gard, Rachel Lee and Katie Saunders each had two hits for Bay League runner-up Mira Costa.
After defeating Chaffey 6-5 in eight innings for a wild-card victory, Redondo (11-17) was shut out by No. 6 California 4-0 in the first round.
Bay League champion and ninth-seeded Palos Verdes (18-11) fell to No. 8 Mayfair 3-2 in eight innings Tuesday to conclude its season.
In Division 4, No. 3 Torrance (21-9) defeated visiting Cabrillo/Lompoc 5-1 in the second round and will play at No. 9 Hesperia (21-2) today.
Tenth-ranked South (21-9) fell short to Ocean View 1-0 but defending champion North (21-10) had little trouble with host Paloma Valley, pounding the Wildcats 20-1. The Saxons host fourth-seeded Aquinas (25-2-1) today.
El Segundo (14-13) won its wild-card game with a 3-0 victory over Lompoc but the Eagles saw their season end with a 12-0 rout by second-seeded Santa Monica. ER
