Despite ‘Bonehead Plays,’ Tustin Beats Estancia in 3-A

The record shows a 7-1 victory by Tustin over Estancia in the second round of the Southern Section 3-A playoffs Tuesday at Estancia.

A glance at the score book reveals that a four-run seventh put the game away for Tustin, which advances to play Calexico in the quarterfinals Friday.

It also shows Tustin’s Andy Gonzales pitched a four-hitter to improve his record to 9-1. And it shows Shawn Green, Tiller center fielder, had three singles in four at-bats and scored three runs.

All of which pleased Tustin Coach Vince Brown.

What you had to be there to see was Brown’s frustration over a number of “bonehead plays” in the early innings. Tustin (19-7) seemed primed to give the game away.

With Tustin leading, 1-0, and two outs in the first inning, Estancia (18-8) scored its only run on a double, two walks and an error. And that got Brown started on a low burn, but it was nothing compared to the comedy of errors that followed.

Here was the situation:

With one out in the second inning, Geoff McManus singled to center field. Next, Zach Elliott doubled off the left-field fence, sending McManus racing around third base a little too far. The throw from left fielder Jeff Kraus caught McManus in a pickle between third and home.

Elliott took third, correctly trading an out for a runner at third. Catcher Paul McDaniels chased McManus back to third, which is what should be done. But Elliott reversed his field toward second base where he was tagged out.

Meanwhile, McManus tried for home, but he was thrown out for a double play and the end of a promising inning.

“There was fire coming out of my eyes and nostrils,” Brown said. “I lost my temper quite a few times. We made some bonehead plays the first two innings.

“With this team, I’ve tried being nice. I’ve tried being calm. Now, I let out all the emotions.”

A two-run sixth, a four-run seventh and steady pitching by Gonzales settled Brown’s nerves.

Until the sixth, Estancia pitcher Chris Watson (11-2) kept the wraps on Tustin’s batters. It was a far different story than the Tillers’ 21-0 opening-round wipeout of Arroyo in which they scored 14 runs in the first inning.

With the score 1-1 in the sixth, the big break came thanks to a run-batted-in single by Nick Cantu and an RBI double by Brett Hardy for a 3-1 Tustin lead.