Return of high school baseball, from Santa Ana to Yucaipa, welcomed by players

Estancia and Santa Ana played a make-up doubleheader Saturday at Bill Ross Field on the Santa Ana campus. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

High school baseball returned to Orange County for many teams Friday under sunny skies.

A few teams with excellent playing surfaces that drain properly have been able to get some games in. But for the most part, the schedules were put on hold because of heavy rains this week.

Until Friday.

Estancia and Santa Ana were two of the teams competing. The Orange Coast League squads met in a make-up doubleheader that started at 12:30 p.m.

Santa Ana Coach Dave Silva began preparing the field Friday at 8 a.m. It looked in outstanding condition by the time the Eagles and Saints met.

The players, needless to say, were happy to be back out playing.

“Practice was really hard, we had to practice in the gym or on the football field but we just persevered and kept working hard to try and get better every day,” said Estancia pitcher Luke Costlow, who notched the win in the first game.

“It’s amazing, I love playing baseball. It’s a beautiful day outside, it’s not raining and I’m just fortunate enough to play today because the rain stopped.”

Santa Ana infielder Ivan Ramirez was also thrilled to be back out playing with his teammates.

“It was really good to be back out here and play as a team even though we know we can do better, but it just wasn’t our game,” Ramirez said. “It was hard, because it stopped us from practicing and getting our reps in, but even though it rained, we were getting our grades up …..”

The affects of the heavy rains were still being felt Friday. Northwood Coach Doug Euper said he was informed that University’s field would not be playable Friday, so the game with the Trojans was postponed again. Northwood will host University in a doubleheader Saturday at noon. The teams will make up the other game later in the season.

And Fullerton Coach Shaun Hill was looking for a game for his team, he announced on Twitter. Hill said that Yucaipa Coach Ralph Grajeda agreed to a game on Saturday at Yucaipa and thanked him for getting his team’s field ready.

The Indians (8-3) and the Thunderbirds will play Saturday at 11 a.m.

And they won’t have to worry about a weather forecast.

PHOTOS: Estancia wins both games of a makeup doubleheader against Santa Ana

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