Estancia, Green look for fresh start

In his return to coach his alma mater last year, C.K. Green figured where Estancia High’s baseball team could finish in league.

“I was like, ‘Wow! I hope we get fourth,” said Green, a 2000 alumnus, who served as intermim coach in 2002. “Of course we finished last, but this year we definitely have a shot.”

At least a shot of securing fourth place, as Estancia is now in the four-team, Orange Coast League.

Green likes his team’s chances in the new league after it went 1-11 in the Golden West League.

Beside Calvary Chapel being the league favorite after sharing the crown in the more formidable Pacific Coast League last year, Green said second place is up for grabs.

Nine players return, eleven counting the two players who played varsity as sophomores but missed last year. Green said Ian Abernathy moved to another state and Blake Pinto dealt with personal issues.

They’re back now as seniors, fighting for the starting job at third base. They’re pushing each other.

Now Green’s looking for the rest of his players to push Estancia into the postseason for the first time since 1992.

Last year started promisingly, with Estancia at 6-6 after going 3-21 the previous year. Then its senior aces, Evan Van Geem and Kane Curran, went down with injuries and were lost for the season.

“On the same day during a Spring Break tournament,” said Green of Van Geem pulling a back muscle and Curran dislocating a shoulder. “It was overwhelming after that.”

No pitching left the Eagles in a bind. They ended the season winning one of 11 games to finish 7-17. It was a season Green would rather forget.

But his second full season as head coach should be easier. Green said he has a hungry bunch wanting to be part of a winner.

He understands why. Five starters played on the Estancia basketball team that finished 2-24.

Catcher Trevor McDonald, who hit .324 with 11 RBIs last year, is one of those basketball players. The senior will call the pitches for two brothers, senior Taylor McClanahan and sophomore Troy McClanahan, who are starters and also played basketball.

“I know that this is a good change for the basketball players,” Green said. “They’re ready to fight to the finish. They’ll have to because we’ll play Costa Mesa, Calvary Chapel and Laguna Beach four times each in league.

“We’re going to get so sick of each other.”

It will be worth it if results in Estancia reaching the postseason for the first time in 15 years.

THE EAGLES

2 Eddie Tomasek Jr.

3 Riley Hart Sr.

7 Ian Abernathy Sr.

8 Gavin Montague So.

10 Tim Morley Sr.

11 Trevor McDonald Sr.

13 Ryan Redding Jr.

16 Troy McClanahan So.

19 Ryan Maxwell Sr.

20 Roy Ortiz Jr.

21 Blake Pinto Sr.

22 Hector Lopez Jr.

25 Miguel Gonzalez Jr.

28 Sam Trancoso Jr.

33 Taylor McClanahan Sr.

44 Sean Ulrich Jr.

Coach: C.K. Green

(second year)