Big inning powers Costa Mesa past Katella, keeping league title hopes alive

Costa Mesa was led by (from left) Wylan Rottschafer, Noah Uribe and Felix Tiquia in the win Tuesday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Costa Mesa’s baseball team used one big inning Tuesday to defeat Katella 10-3 at Costa Mesa, helping the Mustangs inch closer to a share of the Empire League title.

The Mustangs, after falling behind 3-0, exploded for eight runs in the fourth inning to keep their title hopes alive. League-leading Costa Mesa (19-6, 8-3) has a half game lead over Fullerton (15-8, 7-3). Costa Mesa has one more league game left while Fullerton has two remaining.

Fullerton defeated Laguna Hills 12-1 Tuesday to keep its title hopes alive.

Costa Mesa can clinch at least a share of the title with a win Friday at Laguna Hills.

“We have one more game Friday and if we win, I think we clinch at least a share,” said Costa Mesa Coach Jim Kiefer. “It just depends on what Fullerton does.”

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Katella (13-11, 6-5) was only a game behind the Mustangs going into the game. Despite the loss, Coach Carlos Ayala said his team has clinched the third automatic playoff berth from the league since Laguna Hills lost to Fullerton.

Katella jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. Gabriel Guerrero reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on an RBI double by Isaiah Munoz.

The Knights scored again in the second inning. Andrew Lua singled and scored on a double by Danny Viera.

Leadoff hitter Riley Falt then delivered an RBI single to put Katella ahead 3-0.

But in the fourth inning, Costa Mesa’s Noah Uribe belted a bases clearing triple down the right field line to put tie the game 3-3.

“That was a huge at bat, full count, fouls a pitch away and hits the ball the other way, that was a big moment for us because we were in a little bit of a bind and we needed someone to come through and he’s actually done a great job for us in the nine hole,” said Kiefer. “He’s had a lot of really good at bats and for a sophomore, he’s done a fantastic job.”

“That was a crazy hit,” Uribe said. “I went up 3-0 and then he just throws a strike and another strike, I got to compete, I had a check swing foul ball, it wasn’t a pretty swing, but I still battled. He gave me a fastball outside and I just flared it down the right field line. I was trying to make some contact, make something work and score some runs, we really needed it and I think that really got us going because we piled up eight runs that inning.”

Wylan Rottschafer followed with an RBI double, Grady Jackson had an RBI double and Kash Foti a two run double in the inning and Will Morales had two hits in the inning, including an RBI single. Morales was 3 for 3.

The Mustangs also cashed in one walk and two hit batters in the inning.

In the fifth inning, Rottschafer singled and scored on a two-run home run by Tiquia. Tiquia also homered in Friday’s win over Fullerton.

“We got off to a great start,” said Ayala, the Katella Coach. “We were playing solid and then we had that fourth inning and it just kind of unraveled on us, that’s a good hitting team. It was unfortunate, but they’re a good team.”

Ayala did not tell his players after the game they had qualified for the playoffs.

“We qualified for the playoffs, I will let them know tomorrow,” Ayala said. “It’s a nice reward for how we’ve been playing and now we just give it our best shot. We’ve been very consistent, very competitive. We always give outselves an opportunity to win, that’s the one thing that really makes this team so special for me. We’re not super stars but they’ve learned to buy in to our game plan and philosophy.”

Munoz, who was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Falt, who was 2 for 4 with an RBI led Katella’s 10 hit attack. Starting pitcher Vincent Aguilera was effective for three innings before Costa Mesa got going offensively in the fourth inning.

Tiquia, who pitched the first four innings, got the win for Costa Mesa. He allowed 10 hits, one earned run and struck out two. Rottschafer, who came on in the fifth inning and worked out of a bases loaded jam, struck out five and did not allow a hit to earn the save.

Rottschafer also went 3 for 4 for with two run scored and an RBI while Tiquia was 1 for 3 with two runs scored, a home run and two RBI.

Both players were excited about the win.

“We started out slow offensively and defensively, we weren’t very sharp,” said Rottschafer. “But Felix did a good job throwing strikes and he settled in after three and we really dug in out of a jam in the third and Noah has a great swing, battles, tripled the other way to clear the bases and tie it up and we had a bunch of good swings in that fourth inning. Pretty much every guy had a great at bat and it resulted in a lot of runs.”

“The victory was nice, first innings were a little rough,” said Tiquia. “We made a few mistakes on defense but we were able to come back and Noah makes a huge swing and then they make an error and we were able to pile on and take advantage of it. We just got to focus on our next game on Friday against Laguna Hills on Friday and then hope these guys, Katella, can take Fullerton down.”

Fullerton finishes league play hosting Ocean View on Friday and then plays at Katella on Tuesday.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com