The Mira Costa baseball team delivered a commanding 12‑0 victory over St. Francis in the CIF Southern Section Division 3 semifinal, securing a place in the championship game. The win underscores the Mustangs’ depth and poise under pressure.
Starting pitcher Grayson Thomas anchored the effort, tossing five scoreless innings that kept St. Francis off the board and set the tone for the offense to explode.
The Mustangs’ bats were relentless, compiling 14 hits and capitalizing on every opportunity. Connor Collins was hit by a pitch, later scoring on Kellan Finn’s infield single to open the scoring, while Finn’s quick throw out of JT Martin halted a potential rally in the second inning.
Carter Rivera sparked a pivotal double play in the third, and Miko Hodzic contributed a crucial double play in the fifth. Rivera’s leadoff double in the third set up Ace Tarango’s single, and a subsequent error by Joaquin Scholer allowed Tarango to cross the plate, extending the lead to 3‑0.
The fourth inning saw the Mustangs break the game open, plating five runs highlighted by Austin Olness’s two‑run home run that pushed the score to 11‑0. Collins added an RBI double in the sixth to cap the offensive onslaught.
Championship Outlook
Coach Andy Diver’s rallying cry, “It’s your moment,” resonated throughout the clubhouse and appears to have ignited a collective belief that the team can finish the season strong. The Mustangs now turn their focus to the final, where they will meet Agoura with the date and venue still to be determined.