Costa baseball narrowly defeated

By Sandor Kopitz
Staff Writer

The preseason is a time for a team to discover its identity and work out the kinks in its game. The Mira Costa baseball team is doing just that.

On March 30, the Banning Pilots overpowered the Mustangs with a score of 3-2 as Costa’s level of play declined by the end of the game.

The Mustangs’ record in now 9-3, and the team will take on San Clemente tomorrow in the Anaheim Lions Tourney.
Junior Anthony Lombardo started as pitcher for the Mustangs and only allowed two earned runs in six innings.

Costa had the first two runs of the game in the first inning with an RBI single to center field from senior Sean Isaac and an opposite-field single by Lombardo. Despite a strong start, the Mustangs were unable to score any more runs.

The Pilots got their first run in the fourth inning with a single to right field. Going into the sixth, Costa remained on top at 2-1. Soon after, Banning brought the score to 2-2 with a base hit to right field.

Banning’s final run came in the same inning with a ground ball through the infield. The ball skimmed junior third baseman Turner Conrad’s glove but continued on.

“It was a tough play, and it could have helped our team,” Conrad said. “But I know this loss will help us learn from our mistakes.”

Banning players acknowledged that the Mustangs’ untimely play worked greatly in their favor.

“We got lucky,” junior Banning second baseman Celso Bueno said. “But we were able to come away with the win.”

Costa came close to a comeback in the seventh inning but left the bases loaded without scoring. The game ended 3-2 in Banning’s favor.

“The beginning of the season is a building process,” Isaac said. “We are trying to figure out what works for us and what doesn’t work for us.”