Estancia breaks open game with two big innings for Coast League victory over Century

Estancia junior Nico Viramontes pitched a complete game Friday. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

After falling behind early, Estancia High School’s baseball team put together two big innings and went on to defeat Century 7-2 in a Coast League game Friday afternoon at Estancia.

After giving up two runs in the third inning, Estancia starter Nico Viramontes was in control. Viramontes (4-0) shut out Century the rest of the way allowing four hits and striking out one. He also helped himself at the plate going 3 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored.

“I thought we did a better job at the plate, just letting him (Viramontes) do the work for us and getting our bats through the zone, having an opposite field approach and key hit after hit going the other way,” said Estancia Coach Nate Goellrich.

“For us, second time through the lineup, to make that adjustment we’re a younger team, to see that growth from our lineup was huge.”

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Century had won three league games in a row coming into the game and it looked bright for the Centurions (10-4, 3-1) early on. Standout pitcher Andy Santana shut out Estancia (7-6, 2-1) through two innings striking out the side although he worked out of trouble in both innings.

In the top of the third inning, Giovanni Moreno walked and Miguel Ulloa singled. Ismael Valverde then doubled in two runs to give the Centurions the lead.

But Estancia (7-6, 2-1) responded in the bottom of the inning against Santana with four runs on four hits. One runner advanced on the first of two obstruction calls in the game against the Century first baseman.

Sawyer Atkinson had a sacrifice fly, Viramontes had an RBI double and Vaughn McCrea drove home another run on a single. Miles Dodge, who walked, scored on a wild pitch.

Santana (2-3) took the loss, allowing four runs and striking out eight in three innings.

In the fourth inning, Viramontes had an RBI single, Dodge an RBI double and Carlos Hauser drove home a run on a groundout off Moreno, who came on in relief.

Then it was up to Viramontes to close the deal on the mound.

“I felt like we did great, I felt like my defense had my back,” said Viramontes, a junior. “There were zero errors on the board, that’s what I love to see. I feel like the first three (innings) I was kind of off to a slow start, I felt I was doing a little too much on the mound, but after we bounced back in the bottom of the third, I dialed it in and started hitting my spots and my defense did the work.

“It was a great win for all of us, especially this early in league. Props to my defense doing a lot of work for me.”

Century Coach Theo Cortes was feeling pretty good early, then the game took a turn.

“That long inning, the third inning, just got away from us,” Cortes said. “He (Santana) looked overpowering in the first couple of innings and then in the third inning, the second time through the lineup, they were on him a little better. It happens, I think they did a good job, they hit some balls and they got some good hits at the right time.”

Cortes was pleased with Valverde’s approach when he hit the double. Valverde had two of the four Century hits.

“I was telling the kids, if we can just come back and shut them down the next inning (after taking the lead) then it’s a whole different feeling in the dugout,” Cortes said. “This puts us at 3-1, I think everyone is well matched.”

Century and Savanna are tied for first place with 3-1 record and Estancia is 2-1.

The teams play two more league games

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