Esperanza Topples Christian Brothers
It’s been four years since Esperanza won a National Classic title, and Mike Curran had seen more than his share of losses to prep baseball powers over that span.
So the Aztec coach gave his team a little pep talk before its first-round game Monday at Cal State Fullerton against Memphis (Tenn.) Christian Brothers, ranked eighth nationally by Baseball America.
“I told the guys we need to beat one of these teams,” Curran said. “This is a national tournament, and you’ve got to gain some ground [against other respected programs].”
Esperanza took a step forward when pitcher Greg Miller shed his reliever role for a day and allowed only three hits over six innings in the Aztecs’ 2-0 victory. He struck out 10 and walked three.
A.J. Shappi struck out four batters in the seventh--one reached base on a wild pitch--to seal the victory over the Purple Wave (19-3).
Esperanza (15-2), the top-ranked team in Orange County, will play San Ramon California, a 15-14 winner over Panama City (Fla.) Mosley, at 1:30 p.m. today at El Dorado High.
The Aztecs should be emboldened by the performances of David Nicholson, who went three for three with a double, and Miller (3-1), who was superb in only his second start of the season. The left-hander has not given up a run in Esperanza’s last 10 games.
“He did a good job,” Curran said. “He got in a little trouble [walking a batter in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings] and got tired at the end. But he’s been nails lately.”
Esperanza scored its two runs in the fifth inning thanks to two errors.
Brian Browning reached first base leading off when Christian Brothers second baseman Jeremy Finney couldn’t handle his grounder. Pinch-runner Nick Henry moved to second on a single by Nicholson and scored when Purple Wave catcher Chris Godwin’s pickoff throw to first base sailed into the right-field corner.
Nicholson then scored on Andy Webb’s bunt against Jon Crosby (5-1), who struck out four and almost matched Miller pitch for pitch.
“I felt like that was a championship-type ballgame,” Christian Brothers Coach Buster Kelso said. “Whoever executed better was going to win. They did and we didn’t. They’re a good, solid club. They’re for real.”
Kelso said he couldn’t remember the last time his team was shut out. “It’s been two, three, four years,” he said.
While Esperanza’s victory may be one to remember from a historical perspective, Nicholson cautioned that it will mean little if the Aztecs don’t go on to win the tournament.
“If we lose our next two games, it doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “We have to come back and play hard tomorrow.”
Second baseman Greg Farrell was hit by a pitch in the face in the first inning and was taken to a hospital by his father. Curran said one of Farrell’s teeth punctured his cheek.
In another tournament game:
Cypress 5, Lakewood Artesia 4--Zack Swanson, who had three hits and two RBIs, singled home Christian Vitters in the bottom of the seventh for the Centurions (12-5) in the first-round game. Cypress plays Riverside Poly today at 1:30 p.m. at Esperanza.
