Mustangs mowed down

COSTA MESA — Some view the No. 13 as an unlucky number.

Laguna Beach Coach Jeff Sears saw it in two forms against Costa Mesa.

Thirteen runners left on base.

Thirteen strikeouts.

He’ll gladly take the second No. 13.

His starter Zach Nuno threw lights out Tuesday, fanning 13 batters in a three-hit shutout as the Breakers won, 2-0, becoming the first team to beat Costa Mesa in Orange Coast League play.

Sears talked at length to the Breakers (9-13, 2-3 in league) about the two No. 13s.

“I keep track of that one, too,” said Sears of the high number of stranded runners. “We just didn’t leave one.

“The baseball gods can come back and get you.”

The way Nuno kept the Mustangs (11-9, 4-1) off balance with his fastball, curveball and splitter, it really didn’t matter how many Breakers failed to come around and score.

All Nuno (5-2) needed was one run in his second complete game of the year. Enough support for the right-hander against the league leaders.

The Mustangs are now tied for first in league with defending champion Calvary Chapel.

“I don’t know if our guys were guessing, or just didn’t pull the trigger with two strikes,” said Costa Mesa Coach Jim Kiefer, whose team plays Calvary Chapel at Orange Coast College Friday at 3:15 p.m. “We’ve done a great job all year hitting with two strikes. [Tuesday] we just kind of floundered.”

The home plate umpire began calling batters out from the start.

The most opportune time to jump on Nuno was in the bottom of the first inning after Laguna Beach led, 1-0. Mikey Molina, the leadoff hitter, stood off the first base bag when Brian Waldron doubled to right field. Molina was held at third base with no outs.

With runners in scoring position, the No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters waited for their chance. Each struck out, ending the inning.

But it was the beginning of a record day for Nuno, who said he’s being recruited by Cal State East Bay and Cal State Monterey Bay.

The 6-foot-2 senior continued to fool hitters. Nine of his strikeouts were recorded in the final four innings. Two hitters reached base on singles, but Gabe Sanchez and Molina never stood a chance of touching home plate.

To get out of the fourth, Nuno mowed down a batter, the third strikeout of the inning. In the fifth with Molina on second, Nuno hit the outside corner of the plate, freezing a batter with a third strike called.

Through it all, Nuno stayed focused. The Breakers continually left the bases loaded and runners in scoring position. None of it mattered to Nuno.

“I can’t think about that,” said Nuno, leaving his coach to think about the other No. 13, because his wasn’t going to doom the Breakers.

Orange Coast League

Laguna Beach 2, Costa Mesa 0

SCORE BY INNINGS

Nuno and Stansbury; Millian, Boulger (4), Pederson (7) and Hirsch, Sanchez (7). W – Nuno, 5-2. L – Millian, 2-3. 2B – Burk (LB), Gillette (LB), Waldron (CM).