Mira Costa Bats Silenced in Loss to Simi Valley

They have been piling up the hits for three weeks, averaging more than nine runs in a six-game winning streak. And when Jake Jelmini doubled in the first inning for Mira Costa High, it looked like the Mustangs were on track for another big day swinging the bats.

But that double by Jelmini was the only hit that they would produce until the sixth inning, and the Mustangs were shut out by Simi Valley 5-0 in their final game of the Redondo Tournament.

"It didn't really surprise me that the ball didn't bounce our way offensively," Coach Cassidy Olson said. "Everything has been going well for us lately and odds are you'll have an off night eventually."

The lack of offense combined with some shaky defense proved to be too much to overcome as Mira Costa dropped to 10-12 on the season.

"Our defense was not good enough, we had lots of ground balls that we didn't put away," Kyle Demarco said. "All three of our tournament games we were a little flat and didn't play as sharp as we should. We'll just go back to the workshop and get back to what we've been doing the past few games."

Senior right-hander Drew Van Orden was sharp, striking out eight batters and keeping the ball down in the strike zone. But in the third inning, the Mustangs failed to turn a double play, and eventually Van Orden gave up a two-out double that went just over the outstretched glove of right fielder Lucas Whitehill, driving in two runs for Simi Valley. The visiting Pioneers added a single to tack on another run, before Van Orden was able to get out of the inning.

"We had some rough breaks tonight," Van Orden said. "It was a frustrating day for the hitters, they hit some hard shots right to the defense, and we missed some opportunities on defense."

In the fourth, the Mustangs' committed two errors to open the inning and a Pioneer single brought home another run, giving Simi Valley a 4-0 advantage.

"You just can't win when you have four errors," Olson said.  "Drew pitched fine. He was good enough to win. We have been swinging the bats and pitching, but you have to have all three facets and our defense has to be there if we're going to go far in the postseason."

The Mustangs only serious offensive opportunity came in the fifth inning. With two outs, Bret Collins reached on an error.  Kris Cayton walked after a hard-fought at bat where he fouled off three pitches. Dalton Barge then walked to load the bases. But pinch hitter Derek Largent, struck out swinging to end the threat.

"It's only one game, we've been playing great and this team has good chemistry," Demarco said. "We will rebound, I'm just glad we got this one out of the way in a non-conference game."

Mira Costa—tied with Palos Verdes for first place in the Bay League at 4-0—returns to league play on Wednesday at home against Palos Verdes Peninsula.