Bryce Alderton
In one week, the Costa Mesa High baseball team went from playing for
first place in the Golden West League to perilously clutching onto
third place in the race for the CIF Southern Section Division III
playoffs.
And, for the second straight league contest, Mesa found itself in
a pitcher's duel that ended with the same result.
Orange junior left-hander Matt Johnson struck out six, scattered
three hits and walked just one in a complete-game, 4-1 victory over
host Mesa Wednesday.
With the win, the Panthers (9-11, 6-4 in league) nudged their way
into third place, slightly ahead of Mesa (11-10, 5-4) heading into
the final 1 1/2 weeks of the regular season.
Mesa senior starter Justin Peterson struck out seven, walked two,
allowed four hits and four runs -- all unearned -- in six innings to
take the loss. Peterson tossed a four-hitter in a 2-0 loss to Ocean
View April 28, but was victimized in the fifth inning by a two-out
error and Orange followed with all four of its runs.
Peterson, also a lefty, and Johnson each fooled hitters with
sinking curveballs and changeups, which set up their fastballs.
"In the big games, you are going to see the best pitchers. That is
all you can ask for: their No. 1 against our No. 1," Costa Mesa Coach
Doug Deats said. "[Peterson] didn't do too bad. [Johnson] just did a
better job."
Johnson retired 15 of the final 16 batters he faced, including the
final 12 after Andrew Sanford's leadoff double in the fourth.
Jeff Waldron's RBI groundout scored Sanford for Mesa's lone run
and a brief 1-0 lead.
Mesa's two-out error in the fifth opened the door for Orange to do
its damage.
Peterson walked Sean Nilson, the No. 2 hitter, on four pitches,
putting e Panthers at first and second.
Matt Allen then lined a curveball just past the outstretched arm
of the retreating Mesa center fielder, bringing in two runs.
Cleanup hitter Tony Welsh then slammed a two-run home run over the
left-center-field fence to cap the scoring.
"We hit the ball well against a quality pitcher," Orange Coach
Dennis McCuistion said. "[Peterson] is probably the best in our
league. He took it to us when we played the first time [a 6-1 Mesa
victory April 2]."
Peterson lowered his ERA to 0.99 from 1.09. A second-team
all-league selection a year ago, he has allowed nine earned runs in
63 2/3 innings this spring.
Johnson didn't start against the Mustangs in that game, but proved
his first-team all-league status of a year ago with a commanding
performance.
