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Estancia players look on during warm-ups before a game with Segerstrom this season. (PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Estancia High School’s baseball team will be out to bring home the second CIF title for the program in four years when it faces Marshall in the CIF Division 6 finals Saturday at 1 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton’s Goodwin Field.
There is one player from the 2022 CIF Division 5 championship team, Jake Humphries, who has been one of the key players on this year’s squad.
“He was a freshman bench player that year,” said Estancia Coach Nate Goellrich. “He did have some starts early in the season because of injuries.”
A young Estancia team (19-13-1) went through ups and downs this season, but kept getting better, finishing second behind Century in the Coast League.
Then, the Eagles solid play continued with CIF playoff victories over Alhambra (10-8), Foothill Tech (11-1), Pacifica Christian (4-3) and Rancho Mirage (4-3) in the semifinals.
“Overall, I am excited for this opportunity for our players to play in a championship game for the second time in four years,” Goellrich said. “I am proud of how the players have stepped up their competitive drive to another level these playoffs. Hopefully, with being in a couple of close games these past two rounds the nerves will be calm for us on Saturday.
Key players for Estancia have included catcher Sawyer Atkinson, who is batting .443 with 47 hits, 28 runs scored, 28 RBI, 15 doubles, three triples and a home run.
“His defense behind the plate has been big for us in the playoffs. His bat has been a big part of our offensive success,” Goellrich said.
Nico Viramontes, a third baseman and pitcher, is batting .340 with 33 hits, 25 runs scored, 24 RBI and five doubles. On the mound he is 9-0 with a 2.17 ERA. In 67 2/3 innings, he has struck out 38 batters.
“Nico has been excellent at the plate and on the mound here in the playoffs,” Goellrich said. “On the mound he is 2-0 with a save during the playoffs. Hitting, he has been a big bat behind Sawyer all year for us.”
Another standout has been pitcher/first baseman Vaughn McRea, who has a .280 batting average, 26 hits, 14 runs scored and 19 RBI. On the mound, he’s 3-5 with a 3.15 ERA. In 66 2/3 innings, he has struck out 47.
“Vaughn has had a hot bat for us for the past month,” Goellrich said. “He has had many multi-hit games. On the mound, he has had solid outings in the playoffs. Pitched eight innings in a no-decision against Pacifica Christian and got the save in relief against Rancho Mirage.”
Humphries, who plays shortstop and third base, has also contributed. He has a .276 batting average with 32 hits, 25 runs scored, 17 RBI, eight doubles and four triples.
“Jake has been a team leader on defense,” Goellrich said. “Playing either third base or shortstop depending on who are pitcher is. At the plate, he has come through in many key moments for us throughout the season. He had to game winning hit against Pacifica Christian.”
Estancia defeated Anaheim 2-1 in 11 innings in the CIF Division 5 title game in 2022 at Goodwin Field. It was the program’s first CIF title.
Marshalll (20-6-1) finished second in the Mission Valley League.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com