Muhlsteff Delivers Big Hit for Esperanza

Kyle Muhlsteff felt the fastball nick the top of his batting helmet with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning Thursday night, and most of his Anaheim Esperanza teammates appeared to see it as well.

But the umpire ruled it a foul tip and Muhlsteff never made a move toward first base. The senior third baseman wanted to win the Placentia El Dorado National Classic with his bat.

So Muhlsteff lined the next pitch into left-center field, driving in pinch-runner Austin Hunter to give the Aztecs, ranked No. 2 in the Southland by The Times, a 2-1 victory over No. 7 Santa Ana Mater Dei in the championship game at Cal State Fullerton.

“I just wanted to hit the ball hard,” Muhlsteff said.

The Aztecs (12-2) were one out from losing to Mater Dei (10-4), but Esperanza second baseman Justin Bruno hit a line drive to center field and the ball came out of the glove of a diving Andrew Navarrette. Pinch-runner Taylor Aguirre scored all the way from first. Until that point, the Aztecs had not gotten a runner past second base against right-hander Kurt Yacko.

Esperanza starter Ryan Ackland allowed base runners in every inning, but the Monarchs could produce only an unearned run in the sixth.

Dan Arritt

*

Softball

San Pedro senior Courtney Lyons could be out for the season after having a large cyst removed from an ovary.

Lyons (8-0) should make a full recovery, but Coach Tony Dobra said “it could be seven weeks” before she returns.

-- Martin Henderson