High School Baseball: Estancia shut out by Rebone, Laguna
COSTA MESA — Coming off a big victory against its rival to start the Orange Coast League race, Estancia High baseball coach Nate Goellrich was hoping his team had the same emotional fortitude it displayed for that opener when it took on Laguna Beach Tuesday .
The Eagles, who started their league campaign Friday with a 10-2 win over Costa Mesa, didn’t come out with that same emotion against the Breakers. They fell behind early, committed fielding errors and were tamed by Laguna pitcher Kurt Rebone, who threw a one-hitter as the Breakers pulled away for an 8-0 victory.
The Breakers (7-2, 2-0 in league) started league play Friday with a 13-0 shutout of Saddleback.
“He (Rebone) did a great job of hitting the outside corner,” said Goellrich, whose team dropped to 5-3, 1-1. “He was getting ahead of us, and finishing us off. We just couldn’t get anything going.
“We came out a little flat, too. We played our rival Friday, but we didn’t match the intensity that we had for that game, today. Laguna was ready from the start.”
Rebone allowed his only hit in the bottom of the first inning, a one-out single to right field by Levi Stillman. He would surrender a one-out walk to designated hitter Eric Molina in the second, but got out of the inning when Matt Jarmacz hit into a double play.
Rebone then sent the Eagles down in order over the final five innings and finished with five strikeouts.
“He might be our ace,” Laguna Coach Mike Bair said of Rebone, a senior. “To have him be 3-0, with an ERA under [2.0], with two complete games under his belt, well, he’s been lights out for us.
“He was able to establish the outside corner of the plate the first time through, then established the inside corner, after that. He executed his pitches.”
A couple of infield errors and an interference call during the first inning led to a 1-0 lead for Laguna Beach. The Breakers moved in front, 2-0, in the fourth on another infield error by the Eagles, then scored three times in the fifth to take control. Clean-up hitter Blake Hester took a 2-2 pitch and ripped it for a run-scoring double to deep center field. An Estancia infield error led to another run, and Will McInerny drew a bases-loaded walk to force home a run, to take the lead to 5-0.
Laguna Beach scored its final three runs in the sixth. Grant Wilhelm doubled to start the inning, Robbie McInerny and Jackson Rees each had an RBI single, and Richie Nunis brought in a run on an infield ground out.
Senior Ben Beck (2-1) threw the first five innings for Estancia. Senior Alex Chairez started the sixth with the Eagles trailing, 5-0, but gave way to senior Dylan Reyes after Laguna Beach had taken its 8-0 lead.
The Breakers put at least one runner on base in all seven innings.
“Usually we’re a sound defensive team, but today we committed way too many errors,” Goellrich said. “That’s very uncharacteristic of us. I did like the way Dylan [Reyes] competed on the mound. He’s a ‘spot ‘ guy for us.
“Our guys learned that we need to be ready to play from opening pitch every game, We didn’t do that today, and it cost us. We’ll bounce back, though. I have faith in this team. We have good senior leadership.”
The Eagles get the chance to rebound Friday when they take on Godinez. Goellrich said ace Steven Macias (2-1) will start against the Grizzlies. The senior threw a complete-game victory against Costa Mesa.
“Godinez is a very solid ballclub,” Goellrich said. “You have to be ready to play every game in this league. Laguna Beach and Calvary [Chapel] are talented, we have talent, Costa Mesa is good, the league is good. Laguna showed how talented they are today.”
Twitter: @MikeSciacca