San Diego Mesa’s Grand Slam Drops OCC Into Losers’ Bracket

Orange Coast’s pitching problems continued as San Diego Mesa used on a six-run sixth inning, highlighted by catcher Brett Callan’s grand slam, to defeat the Pirates, 10-7, Friday in the Southern California baseball playoffs at Los Angeles Harbor.

Orange Coast plays L.A. Harbor at 10 a.m. today at El Camino College in the double-elimination tournament. In the winners’ bracket, San Diego Mesa faces Long Beach City at L.A. Harbor.

Mesa (30-14) scored in the first on run-scoring single by Beau Champoux. Jason Parsons had a two-run double in the bottom of the first to give Orange Coast a 2-1 lead.

The Olympians scored two in the third on an RBI single by Marlon Gardinera and a sacrifice fly by Chad Barry. The Pirates (26-20) came back to take a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the inning on RBI groundouts by Paul McDaniels and Greg Folsom.

But starting pitcher Kyle Wilson fell apart. Callan drove in Bob Hoffman, who had doubled, in the fifth, on a single. In the sixth, Wilson gave up RBI singles to Bob Simoneau and J.J. Ibarra and was relieved by Ralph Lopez with the bases loaded. Callan then hit a grand slam, giving Mesa a 10-4 lead.

Orange Coast’s Bruce Curtis led off the seventh inning with a triple, and scored on Aaron Weiss’ sacrifice fly. The Pirates then pulled within two in the eighth on Weiss’ two-run single.

Orange Coast threatened in the ninth with runners at the corners and one out, but Mesa closer Mike Jones shut the door for his 10th save.