Placentia Mustangs return after going 7-2 and placing in Elite 8 at tourney in Cooperstown

The Placentia Mustangs gather for a team picture during the tournament. (Photos courtesy Tim Murray, For OC Sports Zone)

The Placentia Mustangs are back home after a memorable trip to Cooperstown Dreams Park in New York.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

The Placentia Mustangs – Murray 12-and-under team finished the season with a record of 46-22-2 and went 7-2 in Cooperstown, making it to the Elite 8, and finishing as the last team standing from California, according to head coach Tim Murray, former baseball coach at Woodbridge.

The Mustangs played against nine teams from nine different states in Cooperstown, including Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Louisiana, Tennessee and North Carolina. 

Murray said he stepped down at Woodbridge after the 2017 “to spend two years with my son in travel ball with the goal of taking the team to Cooperstown Dreams Park.  The last two years I have enjoyed coaching my son, J.P., and some of the best kids and families around.” 

Eric Smith, a former Woodbridge assistant, joined Murray as an assistant coach with the Mustangs.

The Mustangs had some great performances and hit 28 home runs in nine games, Murray said.

Luke Alvarado led the way with five home runs, including three in one game.

“Luke finished the tournament with a .545 batting average (12 for 22) and led the team with five home runs and 14 RBI,” Murray said.

In addition, Diego Gonzalez and Trent Montgomery each hit four home runs while Tommy Cernius, Jacob Ramirez and Joseph Malki all hit three.

Tommy Cernius led the Mustangs in Cooperstown in hits with 14 and finished with a .667 batting average (14 for 21). Caden Miller had a .526 average (10 for 19). Brayden Kim hit .421 and had two home runs and 14 RBI.

“The Mustangs pitching was dominant as well,” Murray said.

“Tommy Cernius (2-0) had two outstanding performances on the mound, shutting down Canes Baseball out of Maryland and RBI Academy from Louisiana in the round of 32,” Murray said. “Nick Santivanez (1-0) was also dominant, striking out 14 in eight innings of work.

“In the Sweet 16 Nick struck out 10 against MAD Mavericks from Tennessee, picking up the victory and advancing the Mustangs to the Elite 8. Trent Montgomery (1-0) was also dominant, striking out 11 in seven innings of work. Brayden Kim and Joseph Malki combined to pitch a no-hitter against Retro Baseball out of Missouri.”

Also contributing were J.P. Murray who started slow, but finished strong, hitting .368, Jack Selvey shut out Precision Baseball from Georgia on opening day and Alex Byun, who hit .388 with a home run.

The Mustangs fell to Five Star Carolina in the Elite 8, Murray said.

The roster included Luke Alvarado, Alex Byun, Tommy Cernius, Diego Gonzalez, Brayden Kim, Joseph Malki, Caden Miller, Trent Montgomery, J.P. Murray, Jacob Ramirez, Nick Santivanez and Jack Selvey.

(If you have sports news to share, please send to editor Tim Burt: timburt@ocsportszone.com and we also welcome pictures)