Costa, Redondo end tourney on high notes
Mira Costa and Redondo concluded the El Segundo baseball tournament Saturday with victories in consolation games in the Gold and Blue Division, respectively. Torrance, ranked No. 7 and last year’s runner in CIF Division 4, pounded Narbonne 15-0 in five innings in the Gold Division championship game. Josh Mingura tossed a no-hitter for the Tartars, who had previously defeated Mira Costa by one run in pool play.
Mira Costa hurler Drew Van Orden fought hard against El Segundo Tournament champion Torrance. Photo
Loyola beat Palos Verdes 9-4 to capture the Blue Division title. Despite the victory, Loyola is ranked No. 6 and Palos Verdes No. 4. in CIF Division 2. El Segundo holds the No. 4 spot in the Division 4 poll.
Mira Costa (2-3) scored a 6-4 victory over South East in a Gold Division consolation game behind a strong pitching performance by Robert Parucha who had six strikeouts in six innings. Kyle Demarco went 2-for-3 with a homerun and two RBIs and Chris Kayson added a double and triple for the offense.
Mira Costa opened the tournament with a 7-3 loss at San Pedro before losing at home to Long Beach Poly 9-3. Eventual champion Torrance pitchers limited the potent Mira Costa offense to two hits and made a wind-aided, first inning three-run home run hold up for a 3-2 victory in the third and final game of pool play.
The Mustangs took out their early-season frustrations on Mary Star, giving Cassidy Olson his first win as Mira Costa’s head coach with a 24-4 five-inning road victory in the first Gold Division consolation game. Dalton Barge and Lucas Whitehill each had three RBIs while going 4-for-4 and Jackson Morrow slugged a three-run homer for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs travel to Long Beach Poly tomorrow for a 3:15 p.m. game before beginning the Redondo Tournament Saturday against Loyola.
Redondo (3-2) jumped over the .500 mark with a 6-3 victory over Bishop Montgomery in the final consolation game in the Blue Division. Daniel Marquez went 2-for-3 and knocked in two runs to lead the Sea Hawk offense.
Redondo evened its record after quashing a Hawthorne comeback attempt, beating the Cougars 6-5 in the first consolation game. Chris Jump went 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI for the Sea Hawks.
First-year head coach Bradey Thurman picked up his first win the previous day with a 9-2 victory over Oak Park. Pitcher Alex Mistuloff went five innings, giving up two hits while striking out 11 and Jake Jimenez led the offense with two hits and an RBI and Drew Kozain hit a triple for the Sea Hawks.
Redondo lost to Narbonne 12-1 in its second game after falling to South 5-4 in eight innings in the season opener for both teams.
The Sea Hawks play a double header today at El Segundo starting at 4:30 p.m. Redondo hosts its own tournament beginning Saturday with a game against San Pedro. The Sea Hawks host North in a non-league game Tuesday at 7 p.m. ER