Mustangs' Offensive Slump Continues; Lose 3-1 to West Torrance

Different day, same story for the Mira Costa baseball team, as another West Torrance pitcher went the distance and slowed the Mustangs' offense to a crawl last Friday.

Mustangs coach Cassidy Olson, visibly displeased by his teams’ effort, or lack thereof, had his team put in extra conditioning work following the game with hopes that his team will bring a renewed focus to the team concept, following their disappointing start in the Bay League.

“Our deal right now is that we are a bunch of individuals and not a team," Olson said. "Guys have to stop worrying about their stats and start moving runners over and sacrificing for their teammates."

Two days after Daniel Timmerman threw a shutout, teammate Collin Nelson (2-2) pitched a complete game, allowing just one run on three hits as the Warriors picked up a sweep of the Mustangs for the week.

“All credit to West, they came out and just beat us twice," said Olson. "Just like on Wednesday, they threw fastballs and our guys just couldn’t figure it out.” 

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, the Mustangs (11-8, 0-2) had the makings of a two-out rally as Sean Isaac reached base on an infield single and was joined on base by Derek Largent and Ian McLoughlin who each walked.

With the bases loaded, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo-bound Anthony Lombardo lined out to the short stop to end the inning.

The Warriors (9-9-1, 2-0) would score in the fifth and sixth innings with Johnny Palmer singling in a run and Thomas Bray coming up with a pinch-hit RBI in the sixth to give the Warriors and Nelson a 3-0 cushion.

In the sixth, Bret Collins advanced from first when Isaac hit a sky-high pop fly between home plate and first base. A convergence of three West players came up empty handed and Isaac reached base safely.

With two Mustangs aboard, Largent put together an impressive at-bat, fouling off a series of pitches and winning his battle with Nelson. Largent hit the ball sharply past third base, scoring Collins from second and getting the Mustangs on the board at 3-1.

“The one guy with a great at-bat was Largent," said Olson. "He is a senior who is 100 percent a team guy. He works his butt off and we need nine guys like that.  Right now, it’s one guy every 10-11 at-bats."

With the go-ahead run at the plate, McLoughlin flied out and Lombardo stepped to the plate again with two outs, faring no better as he went down on strikes.

“The guys who are supposed to be stepping up right now are the returners, but when it matters most [Bay League] they just haven’t done it right now,” Olson said.

After hanging 12 runs on Orange Lutheran on April 4, the Mustangs have managed only three runs in their past four games, not surprisingly all losses.

“In the first part of the season we were putting up the runs, we know we can hit, it’s disappointing,” Turner Conrad said.

Conrad (2-2) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs in a losing effort. Michael Romo allowed no runs in an inning and 1/3 of work for Mira Costa.

“Turner did a great job today," Olson said. "He made a couple mistakes, but allowing three runs in a high school game should be good enough to win."

Friday’s game was the beginning of a four-game homestand, with Loyola, Leuzinger and Crespi visiting in the next week.

“We need to come together, sacrifice and not worry about any individual things," said Largent. "There are not a lot of us who are superstar players. It’s going to take the whole team coming together for us to win."