Esperanza Hopes to Make Mark in Tournament

Esperanza, ranked second in Orange County, has a chance to make a splash starting Monday in the National Classic, one of the premier high school baseball tournaments in the country.

The Aztecs are one of three county teams competing in the 16-team tournament, which runs through Thursday at El Dorado High, Esperanza High, Champions Park in Placentia and Cal State Fullerton. The championship game is 7 p.m. Thursday at Cal State Fullerton.

Esperanza was the last county team to win a National Classic title, defeating El Dorado in the 1997 championship game.

The other county teams in this year’s Classic are El Dorado, ranked fourth in the county, and Cypress.

The tournament features a number of preseason All-Americans from Southern California, including Esperanza third baseman David Nicholson, West Torrance catcher Nelson Caraballo and Diamond Bar pitcher Mark Jecmen.

Esperanza faces a test at 7 p.m. Monday at Cal State Fullerton when it plays Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers.

The National Classic is one of a handful of spring-break baseball tournaments.

The 16-team Big West Invitational begins at 7 tonight at Windrow Park in Irvine, where El Toro faces Woodbridge and Huntington Beach plays Northwood. The championship game is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Windrow Park.

Trabuco Hills, winner of last year’s Big West tournament, is competing this year in the 16-team Anaheim Lion’s Club tournament, which begins Saturday at Glover Field and Brookhurst Park in Anaheim. The Mustangs face Lakewood at 7 p.m. Saturday at Glover Field. The championship game is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Glover Field.

Corona del Mar, ranked ninth in the county, and Mission Viejo, ranked 10th, will compete in the 16-team Pride of the Coast tournament, which begins Saturday at Costa Mesa High, Newport Harbor High, Corona del Mar High and TeWinkle Park in Costa Mesa.

In Saturday’s featured first-round games, Corona del Mar plays Oakland Skyline from Utah at 11 a.m. and Newport Harbor hosts Mission Viejo at 11 a.m.

The tournament championship game is at 7 p.m. Wednesday at TeWinkle Park.