Eagles claim city crown

COSTA MESA — Marc DeFrenza is not impenetrable, though his presence and performance on the mound sometimes make it seem so.

The Estancia High pitcher worked five commanding innings, before surrendering his first hit and first run in the sixth inning at crosstown and Orange Coast League baseball rival Costa Mesa High Friday.

He even let go of his trademark poise, if just for an instant, shouting in frustration after an error allowed a second Mustangs run to score.

But DeFrenza never relinquished the lead, as his complete-game three-hitter helped the Eagles post a 4-2 win.

The triumph, which included another clutch run batted in by senior first baseman Ryan Cherney, who had five RBIs in three games against Costa Mesa this season, helped the Eagles win the perpetual Paul Troxel Trophy that goes to the annual series winner.

What’s more, the victory helped Estancia (12-9, 4-2 in league) move into a tie for first place with Calvary Chapel, dropping Costa Mesa (11-10, 5-3), the defending league champion, into third place in the OCL standings.

DeFrenza, who notched his fourth complete game in eight starts this season, struck out 11. He walked three and hit a batter, but there was, at least in the Estancia dugout, never a question about his control.

“That’s why he’s in that spot,� Eagles Coach Matt Sorensen said of the right-hander, who improved to 5-3 and lowered his earned-run average to 2.06. “He’s going to come in and close every Tuesday game and he’s going to start ever Friday game. We’re going to get as many innings as we can out of the kid, because he gives us the best chance to win.�

Senior pitcher Brandon Kelly gave Costa Mesa a similar chance, going the distance and allowing only three hits.

“It was a pitchers’ duel,� Costa Mesa Coach Jim Kiefer said. “DeFrenza was very good today. He hit his spots and showed great poise on the mound. We got to him late in the game, but he came back and did well in the seventh inning. I’m very impressed by the performance on his part.

“Brandon had some trouble hitting spots [six walks], but I thought he competed out there and I thought he kept us in the game.�

The difference in the game, until the sixth inning, was Cherney’s line-drive single to left that plated Andres Hernandez, who had walked to start the third inning. Hernandez advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Matt Carlyle and went to third on a wild pitch.

Cherney, freshman shortstop Tyler Rios and junior designated hitter Victor Trujillo all walked and scored for the Eagles in the top of the sixth. Trujillo came home on an RBI single by senior catcher Josh Dominguez to make it 4-0.

Senior shortstop P.J. Maloney ended the no-hitter by lining a curveball to center field to open the Costa Mesa sixth.

And when senior first baseman Ryan Boulger doubled off the center-field fence one out later, Maloney became the first Mustang to reach second base on his way to scoring.

Senior center fielder Jesse Fox followed with a ground-ball single up the middle that moved Boulger to third. But when an errant throw from the outfield got away, Boulger scored to cut the lead to two.

But DeFrenza, who threw 104 pitches, retired the next five hitters, including a game-ending strikeout, to give the Eagles, who have not been to the CIF playoffs since 1994, a city championship and a step toward another crown.

“We’re city champs right now and, hopefully, we’ll be league champs,� Cherney said.

“This feels great,� DeFrenza said. “You’ve got to bring out your best in these rivalry games and we did. We definitely played our game well. I was hitting my spots and feeling good. I was kind of in a groove during the game. And Sorensen did a good job calling pitches, keeping [the Mustangs] off balance.�

Dominguez finished two for two.

Orange Coast League

Estancia 4, Costa Mesa 2

SCORE BY INNINGS

Estancia 001 003 0 - 4 3 1

Costa Mesa 000 002 0 - 2 3 3

DeFrenza and Dominguez; Kelly and Hirsch. W – DeFrenza, 5-3. L – Kelly, 2-1. 2B – Boulger (CM).