Eagles outlast Mustangs

Carlyle began the Estancia eighth by being hit by a pitch. Alex Trancoso’s sacrifice bunt moved Carlyle to second, where he remained after the next hitter fouled out. With two outs and an open base, Costa Mesa Coach Jim Kiefer elected to walk Boselo, who was then two for three.

Cherney, who had no RBIs the first six games, then drove the first pitch of his at-bat sharply up the middle to plate Carlyle and give him his second RBI of the day.

“I was just trying to [clutch] up for team,” said Cherney, who said he was neither surprised by the win, nor the strong pitching of Boselo.

“We’re going to keep winning,” Cherney said of the Eagles. “Even before this season, I thought we had a chance [to win league].

“When Boselo comes in, we know he’s going to throw strikes and get outs. We have all the confidence in the world in him.”

Boselo did not lack confidence going to his curveball, a pitch, often delivered in fastball counts, that Mesa hitters froze on five times for called third strikes.

“Usually, they can’t hit it,” Boselo said of his curveball, a pitch that he enjoys stumping opponents with. “It’s a bunch of fun,” he said of locking up hitters with the pitch that typically started around the letters, then dropped into the strike zone. “I love it.”

Boselo, Cherney and Carlyle combined for six of the Eagles’ nine hits.

Eagles’ starter Mark DeFrenza worked into the sixth, allowing three hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out four.

Maloney was two for three with two runs and a stolen base for the Mustangs (4-4), for whom starting pitcher Tyler Peterson went the distance. Peterson struck out seven.

The two teams, who compete for the Paul Troxel Trophy that goes to the annual series winner, square off again April 20 and April 23.

Orange Coast League

Estancia 4, Costa Mesa 3

SCORE BY INNINGS

DeFrenza, Gonzalez (6), Boselo (6) and Dominguez; Peterson and Hirsch. W – Boselo, 1-0. L – Peterson, 1-2. 2B – Dominguez (E), Carlyle (E), Boselo (E) Cherney (E), Fulkerson (CM). 3B – Maloney (CM). HR – Trujillo (E).