The Mira Costa baseball team captured the CIF Southern Section Division 3 championship in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 6‑1 hole to beat Agoura 9‑7 and claim the program’s seventh section title in the 2025‑26 academic year.
The Comeback That Defied the Odds
What made the victory especially striking was that the Mustangs had spent most of the season third in the Bay League, making their playoff run appear improbable to anyone watching the regular schedule.
Senior catcher Kellan Finn delivered a two‑out, bases‑loaded triple in the fifth inning that sparked the rally, and designated hitter Nick Feidler followed with a solo home run in the sixth to break a 6‑6 tie and put the team ahead.
A Message That Resonated
Athletic director Mike Rosenthal, who has led the school’s sports programs since 2022 after a career as an NFL offensive tackle and Notre Dame All‑American, followed the game via text from the boys volleyball state championship in Fresno, reminding the team that “the game is never over until it’s over.”
Rosenthal later reflected that the series of championships across multiple sports felt like a blur, yet he emphasized that the true legacy lies not in the banner count but in the camaraderie forged among the players.
The Mustangs’ playoff path was marked by four games in which they trailed and rallied, underscoring a resilience that defined their season and gave the underclassmen early confidence while the seniors closed the championship.
Beyond baseball, Mira Costa added titles in girls cross country, girls beach volleyball, boys volleyball, boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and boys track and field, a sweep that athletic director Mike Rosenthal described as a testament to the program’s work ethic.
While the seven section crowns validate the school’s efforts, Rosenthal stressed that the personal stories of kids — especially the seniors who closed the season — matter more than any tally, and that the championship banner is not what stays with the kids but the bond formed by the experience.
The banner will hang in the gym, but the connections made on the field will endure, linking the current roster to future generations of Mustangs and reminding everyone that the journey, not just the victory, is what shapes a legacy.