Peterson highlights honorees

Junior Tyler Peterson received the Orange Coast League Pitcher of the Year award after leading the Costa Mesa High baseball team to its first league championship since 1978.

Peterson highlights one of six Mustangs earning first-team recognition after helping Costa Mesa (20-7, 11-4 in league) set a school record with 20 overall victories.

The five other players are senior shortstop Mikey Molina, junior second baseman Brian Waldron, senior first baseman and pitcher Nick Pederson, sophomore utility player P.J. Maloney and junior outfielder Ryan Boulger.

The Mustangs advanced to the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the third straight year.

Peterson, a right-hander, went 7-2 with a 2.88 earned-run average. He recorded six complete games, including a shutout. In 75 1/3 innings, he struck out 47 and walked only 16 batters.

As a hitter, Peterson batted .361 with 17 runs batted in and five doubles.

Peterson, Molina and Waldron are repeat first-team selections.

Molina hit .378 with 12 RBIs, seven doubles, two home runs and one triple. Molina tied for first for hits (37) and runs (29).

Waldron batted .372 with 15 RBIs, four doubles and one homer. Waldron scored 29 runs.

Pederson hit .354 and led the Mustangs with three homers and 28 RBIs. He had five doubles and scored 21 runs.

As a pitcher, the right-hander finished 6-3 with a team-leading 1.70 ERA. He had two complete games and one shutout.

Maloney led the team with a .430 batting average and added 10 RBIs, five doubles and one home run.

Maloney finished 5-2 with a 4.12 ERA.

Boulger hit .350 with 14 RBIs, three doubles and one homer.

Three Costa Mesa players making the second team were junior outfielders Brandon Kelly and Jesse Fox, and junior catcher Garrett Hirsch.

Senior pitcher Gavin Montague was Estancia’s lone player making the all-league team. He made it on the second team.

Montague went 3-5 with a 3.02 ERA. The right-hander recorded 30 strikeouts in 60 1/3 innings, and he had one complete game for Estancia (9-16, 5-7 in league)

Estancia Coach Matt Sorensen said Montague is headed to the University of Oregon, where he has earned preferred walk-on status.

— From staff reports