Supporters of the Mira Costa baseball program were smiling Saturday but none more than the Brunkhardt family when the final score indicating Mustangs 3 – Guests 2 was illuminated on a new electronic scoreboard in right-center field.
A two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning that gave Mira Costa the victory over Santa Monica seemed a fitting way to end a day at the ballpark that began with the scoreboard dedication in memory of Darren Brunkhardt.
Brunkhardt was a promising athlete who, at the age of 15, died in April 1993 from injuries sustained in an auto accident. He was a member of Mira Costa’s junior varsity baseball and soccer teams and quarterback of the freshman foot team.
Money from a memorial fund established in Brunkhardt’s name paid for the scoreboard, which cost $9,000 including installation.
The victory over Santa Monica marked the third walk-off win for Mira Costa this season and improved its record to 2-1 in the Redondo Tournament. The Mustangs opened the tournament losing a 7-6 heartbreaker to Los Alamitos but rebounded to crush South 9-0.
Anthony Lombardo had three hits on the day including the game winner when his one-out single scored Ryan Erickson for the victory.
Mustang head coach Cassidy Olson believes a 4-3 win over Long Beach Wilson (ranked No.2 in CIF Division 1) in early March helped prepare his team for the late-inning heroics.
“We had an early season confidence builder when we beat Long Beach Wilson on a walk off,” Olson declared. “It’s their only loss of the season.”
Mira Costa (8-5) is riding a five-game winning streak where it has outscored opponents 30-3. The Mustangs will spend the first part of their spring break competing in the 60-team Anaheim Lions Tournament which includes teams from Illinois, Nevada, Utah and Washington.
The Mustangs open pool play against Murrieta Mesa on Saturday and will play Villa Park and Dana Hills on Monday before facing St. Viator (Ill.) on Tuesday.
Olson’s squad will make the most of its tournament competition before the Mustangs open Bay League competition with a home-and-away series on April 11 and 13 against defending champion West.
“We played a very difficult early season schedule in Orange County and hope that will make us battle tested for league,” Olson stated. “Our team is led by Lombardo in center field and senior infielders Ryan Franklin (first base), Erickson (shortstop) and Conrad (third base). All are strong defensively and have contributed with the bats so far. Lombardo is standout who has a scholarship to Cal State Northridge.”
Olson feels his pitching rotation has three quality starters in juniors Gordan Cardenas, Christian Alcala and the senior Lombardo.
“Underclassmen we are counting on to help are second baseman Trent Hammond, catcher Austin Henning and outfielders Kevin Lopez, Garrett Wells and Keyon Allen,” Olson said.
Speedy Sea Hawks
After Redondo edged Carson 1-0 in its first game of the Redondo Tournament, the team fell to Bell 3-2 on Saturday giving the Sea Hawks a 5-6 record on the young season.
Second-year head coach Jeff Baumback has four returning seniors that he will rely on to lead his team in the race for the Bay League title.
Dylan Hatch earned All-Bay League and All-CIF honors last season after batting .451 with six home runs and 22 RBIs and will split time as a first baseman and pitcher.
Jake Jimenez comes off an all-league season in which he batted .314 and had 17 RBIs and will handle the duties behind the plate.
Matt Esparza is Redondo’s ace on the hill and starts at third base when not pitching while Cameron Bennett returns as the Sea Hawk’s starting left fielder and lead-off hitter.
Junior shortstop Fred Smith looks to be among the team’s top run scorers as a top-of-the-lineup hitter.
“Speed is our strength as well as solid hitters 1-9,” Baumback said. “We have some depth on the bench with hitters and position players. We still need to improve defensively, errors have hurt us and although we are deep as far as guys who can pitch, we are still looking for another starting pitcher or two to step up for us behind Esparza, our No. 1 pitcher.”
Battling for spots in the starting rotation are Kevin Ahir, Andrew Baer, Adrian Benoit, Nick Durslag and Nick Granado.
Redondo will open league play Wednesday at Leuzinger and will host the Olympians Friday in a 7 p.m. contest. The Sea Hawks continue competition in the Redondo Tournament when they host Millikan Saturday at 11 a.m. Redondo will host North in a non-league contest Wednesday at 3:15 p.m.
“I believe the league title is up for grabs,” Baumback said. “Most teams lost their top starting pitchers from last season and I would expect the league to be extremely competitive and all teams to be very evenly matched. West is the defending league champ, so they are the team to beat still.”
