Mira Costa 2005 graduate Wayne Larcom went two-for-two with three RBIs to pace the alumni to a 4-2 victory over the new Mustang varsity squad Saturday, Jan. 31 in the annual Mira Costa Baseball Alumni Game at Osterhaus Field.
“It’s always great coming back to see old teammates and getting a look at the new varsity team,” alumni shortstop Larcom said, “and it’s even better to get this victory.”
With the game deadlocked at two, the varsity squad attempted a double-steal in the top of the fifth to try to coax a go-ahead balk out of eventual winning pitcher and 2008 grad Brent Weber. The umpire wasn’t buying it and second baseman Kyle Demarco (2010) threw a dart to nail Zack Chan at the plate to end the threat. Larcom came up in the bottom of the frame to deliver a bases-loaded single and two-run lead that the alumni never surrendered.
Former Mustang team captain Jon Wilhite (2003) led his  squad to a second consecutive victory while serving as the alumni’s manager.
Wilhite, who was nearly killed by a drunk driver in April 2009, showed the sweet-swinging left-handed pop in pre-game batting practice that he used to help Cal State Fullerton to the 2004 College World Series championship when he was only a freshman.
“We alumni take this seriously because we want to show these younger guys the Mustang Way,” Wilhite said. “That means coming out and competing hard to win.”
The game featured father-and-son alums for the first time when 1976 graduate Mark Strange manned centerfield in the same inning his son and 2008 graduate Cody Strange played in front of him at second base.
The 21 alums said they’ll be counting the days until next spring’s game.
“We’re coming back and we’re coming to win,” Larcom said. “We’ve got to keep our streak intact.”
The Osterhaus Field renovation and new backstop netting got rousing reviews from former Mustangs back to play in the annual Alumni Game yet for different reasons.
“Everyone’s really doing a great job because the field looks phenomenal and more like a smaller college field than a typical high school field,” Larcom said. “I wish we had all these facilities before.”
Wilhite, an All-Bay League catcher during 2000-2003 Mustang tenure, added: “The backstop we always had didn’t make a bad catcher pay since it was right up on top of the plate. I used to work hard block everything and many opponents wouldn’t. This new netting is great for the fans because they can see so much better, but it’s a real benefit for our Costa catchers who can actually play the game.”
The Alumni roster included: 1976 Mike Myerchin (1976), Mark Strange (1976), John Colin (2000), Sean Finnerty (2001), Â Nick Haley (2003), Elvis Herrera (2003), Jon Wilhite (2003), Sean Begley (2004), Russ Kontos (2004), Wayne Larcom (2005), Mike Purcell (2006), Matt Sugarman (2006), Sonny Wohn (2006), Cody Strange (2008), Brent Weber (2009), Kyle Demarco (2010), James Glawe (2010), Drew Van Orden (2010), Danny Rojas (2010), Christian Carreathers (2013), Spencer Knoche (2013) and 2014 Austin Yamada (2014).
