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Winning pitcher Mike DeFrancesca (No. 20) is congratulated by Trabuco Hills teammates. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Trabuco Hills High School’s baseball team broke a 1-1 tie with a run in the third inning, then looked to junior Mike DeFrancesca to close it out on the mound against Pacifica in the Ryan Lemmon Invitational Wednesday at the Great Park.
DeFrancesca did just that with a complete game, leading the Mustangs to a 2-1 victory over the Mariners at the Great Park field nine. He allowed five hits, struck out two while walking two helping Trabuco Hills win its second game in the tournament without a loss.
Pacifica threatened to tie the game in the seventh inning. With two outs, Spencer Groff doubled to left center field but DeFrancesca (2-2) got Aiden Marquez to fly out deep to right field for the final out, snapping Pacifica’s three-game win streak in the 36-team tournament.
“That’s a good program over there, so it’s always a good win,” said Trabuco Hills Coach Michael Burns. “It’s interesting, you get into the spring break tournaments, you don’t know whose pitching or who just came out of a league series like us, it’s always good to beat a quality program and a good team.”
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
Burns was pleased with the effort of DeFrancesca, who pitched his first complete game and entered the game with a 2.40 ERA. He also has one save.
“Mike was outstanding, he really sucked it up and kind of picked up our offense, our offense wasn’t great tonight and that’s what good teams do, good teams pick up for each other and we pitched and played defense today and hung on,” Burns said.
“I got off to kind of a shaky start, but things kind of went my way from there on out, offense was not big but two runs is enough,” added DeFrancesca. “We’re playing some great, competitive baseball with two really close wins and we got a great team tomorrow (Thursday, vs. Foothill).”
Pacifica starter David Newman also pitched well, allowing just three hits and striking out seven.
Trabuco Hills (9-6) scored what turned out to be the deciding run in the third inning. Ryan Manda walked with one out and scored on a double (according to the home team Trabuco Hills) by Evan Hall deep to right field. Hall was then picked off second to end the inning.
The Mustangs took the opening lead in the first inning. Manda singled, stole second and scored on an error.
Pacifica (13-6) tied the game in the top of the second inning. Joshua Pearman walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Christian Tharasena. He later scored on a passed ball.
The Mariners had scoring chances in the third and sixth innings, but weren’t able to get the tying run.
“I think Davie Newman pitched a heckuva game,” said Pacifica Coach Mike Caira, who thought the deciding run came home on an error, not a double. “Two unearned runs, it was unfortunate our offense couldn’t match his intensity on the mound, but hats off to that pitcher over there. He matched it and he kept us off balanced.
“It has been a good week, in baseball we all want to win every game, that’s not possible …. remember they’re kids are out here and they’re doing their best, they’re not in college or professional yet. This is tough, but hats off to our guy, he pitched really well.
“We pitch and play defense, everyone knows that, that’s our thing, giving up two unearned runs, as a coach, that was more hard to swallow, but these guys are trying their best, and we’re out here to have fun. But hats off to them, Mike Burns does a great job over there.”
Pacifica is 4-0 atop the Empire League and resumes league play next week against Tustin.
“It’s one of our better offensive teams in a while,” Caira said. “Our pitching is good, we got to take care of business, we’re in D1, we need to get there, if we can pull off a first-round home game in CIF (playoffs), who knows?”
Trabuco Hills resumes South Coast League Tuesday at Tesoro. The Mustangs have started league play 1-2.
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
