Estancia’s Nick Mazur shakes off nerves at Angel Stadium, throws three-hitter in 4-0 win over rival Costa Mesa

Estancia High’s Nick Mazur had to fight back nerves once he stepped on the pitching mound at Angel Stadium.

The senior gave up three hits in the first two innings, but he settled down.

Mazur kept rival Costa Mesa hitless the rest of the way en route to a three-hit shutout in Estancia’s 4-0 win in Orange Coast League play on Tuesday.

Mazur, who struck out three, relied on his defense. After giving up a one-out single in the second inning, Mazur retired 16 of the next 17 batters to help Estancia improve to 2-0 in league after taking the first game of the Battle for the Bell series.

“I was nervous the first few innings,” said Mazur (2-0), who threw 85 pitches. “I was throwing some balls. I wasn’t used to the crowd, but after a few innings, I was used to it and I got into the rhythm.”

Estancia’s offense got in the groove in the second inning by scoring twice.

A one-out single by Joe Stukkie started things off. Then Zander Fletcher drew a two-out walk from pitcher Skylar Manning. Hayden Pearce singled in Stukkie and moved to second base on a bad throw home.

Following a walk by Jake Alai to load the bases, Brian Rodriguez hit a high bouncer to third base, but Cameron Chapman bobbled the ball, and Estancia went up 2-0.

It was smooth sailing for the Eagles (7-3 overall), who have been waiting for their moment at the Big A.

“We’ve been preparing for weeks,” Mazur said. “We’ve been ready to play this game. We came out and practiced hard every week all the way up to game day. We were all hyped up for it. We came out here and shut them down.”

Rodriguez produced another RBI in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly to right field. Fletcher would tag on the accurate throw home, but it was misplayed as Fletcher scored to make it 3-0.

In the next inning, Fletcher knocked in the fourth run with a single between Costa Mesa reliever Omar Munoz’s legs that would score Stukkie. Munoz threw three innings.

“We just didn’t put the ball in play when we needed to,” Costa Mesa coach Don Welsher said. “A lot of 2-0 fastballs that we took and couldn’t drive them. We couldn’t get key hits in key situations. I thought we threw strikes for the most part. We just couldn’t put the ball in play when we needed to.”

Manning went four innings. He allowed six hits and three runs while walking three and hitting two.

Michael Ricks and pinch-runner Marcos Linares were the only Mustangs who reached second base. Costa Mesa (5-6, 1-1 in league) hosts Calvary Chapel on Friday at 3:15 p.m.

“We’ll be ready for Calvary Chapel,” Welsher said. “We’ll try to get back on the winning track.”

Pearce went two for four with an RBI double, and Stukkie was two for two. Stukkie and Fletcher each scored twice for Estancia, which will travel to Saddleback on Friday. Saddleback lost to Laguna Beach 25-0 on Tuesday.

“Every game is a new game,” said Estancia coach Kevin Conlin, who is in his first season with the Eagles. “That’s how we are going to treat every game. We aren’t going to be too emotional. We have to come with the same intensity and play them the same way. This is a good win for us, but now we have to move to Saddleback.”

MANNY ALVAREZ is a contributor to Times Community News. Follow him on Twitter: @MAlvarez02