Baseball: Mesa handles Bolsa Grande

COSTA MESA - Costa Mesa High junior Brent Stevens was practically

guaranteed a complete game by his coach, Kirk Bauermeister, before

Saturday’s Pride of the Coast Tournament first-round game with visiting

Bolsa Grande.

“I gave him the ball and told him, ‘Next time I talk to you, I’ll be

shaking your hand after the game,’ ” Bauermeister said following the

Mustangs 9-2 win over the Matadors. “I just didn’t have anyone else to

put in and we needed a big game from Brent.”

Stevens had three strikeouts, while walking three over seven innings.

He needed to go the distance to earn the win as the Mustangs required a

seven-run sixth inning to blow the game open.

Josh Little’s bases-loaded triple capped the big sixth inning, but it was

a newcomer to the Mustangs’ squad who had the biggest hit of all.

With Mesa leading, 3-2, Michael McGuire, playing in his first game at the

varsity level, smacked a two-run single in the sixth, giving the Mustangs

some much-needed breathing room.

Daniel Hunter and Carlos Franco each went 2 for 3 to add to Mesa’s

attack.

The Mustangs (7-10-1) will host A.B. Miller today at 11 a.m. in further

tournament action.

PRIDE OF THE COAST TOURNAMENTFirst Round

Costa Mesa 9, Bolsa Grande 2

Bolsa Grande 000 020 0 - 2 8 1

Costa Mesa 010 107 x - 9 10 3

Leon and Heredia; Stevens and Hunter. W - Stevens, 1-3. L - Leon. 2B -

Curren (BG), Johnstone (BG), Rodriguez (BG), Grubisich (CM). 3B - Little

(CM).