ALISO VIEJO – On a heavily overcast afternoon, it should be no surprise that the day belonged to a pitcher named Mikey Gray.
The senior right-hander for Trabuco Hills kept Aliso Niguel in a fog, going a full seven innings as the Mustangs scored a 4-1 South Coast League victory Wednesday.
It was an important bounce-back performance by Trabuco Hills, which is ranked No. 20 by the Orange County Register. The Mustangs – now 9-2-1 overall, 1-1 in league – suffered a heartbreaking loss Monday to No. 13 Aliso Niguel (11-4, 1-1).
In that 3-0 setback at home, Trabuco Hills pitcher Mike DeFrancesco took a no-hitter into the sixth inning when he gave up an infield single off his toe, and then gave up a mammoth two-run home run to Cooper Flemming “that still hasn’t come down,” according to Mustangs coach Brent Lavoie.
Coincidentally, it was Flemming who was pitching Wednesday against visitor Trabuco in the second of three games this week.
But Gray rose to the occasion. He allowed only three infield singles, and only one unearned run. He struck out two and didn’t walk any batters. Gray and catcher Tyler Hill were dialed in.
Trabuco Hills pitcher Mike Gray improved to 5-0 on the season with a three-hitter against Aliso Niguel in a 4-1 South Coast League victory Wednesday, March 26. (Photo by Martin Henderson)“It’s a luxury to have a guy like that,” Lavoie said. “You hand him the ball and get out of the way. Sometimes I call pitches – today I think I called one.
“Mikey’s the ultimate competitor – cool, calm, collected. Really composed.”
Gray improved to 5-0 on the season and lowered his ERA to 0.72.
After being shut out on Connor Etnire’s three-hitter Monday, it was important for Trabuco Hills to get on the scoreboard any way possible. It did so in the top of the first with Gray’s soft grounder up the middle for an infield hit, a bunt by Ryan Luce and a fly to right field in which Gray reached third base. He scored on Evan Hall’s grounder to shortstop in which the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag.
Aliso answered in the second inning. Carson Etnire reached on a throwing error, stole second base, took third on a fly out, and scored on Connor Etnire’s sacrifice fly to center field.
Trabuco responded with maybe its most important run. In the top of the third, No. 9 hitter Brady Meade singled to center, stole second and took third when the ball went into center field. He scored on on a passed ball, snatching momentum back from Aliso.
Hall would figure in Trabuco’s third and fourth runs. He drove in Luce in the fifth inning with a two-out single to center, and his triple against reliever Weston Wendlandt in the seventh inning scored Luce, who had doubled.
“He was good,” Hall said of Flemming. “We got his pitch count up, got him out of the game. Definitely had some speed, his curveball is definitely good. I’m seeing the ball really well right now and I was able to adjust and get some knocks.”
Batting cleanup, Hall’s plate appearances came at fortuitous times; he had a hand in every run, all of them coming with two outs. Hall had three hits and three RBIs.
Trabuco Hills left fielder Evan Hall had three hits and drove in two runs as in Trabuco Hills’ 4-1 victory over Aliso Niguel on Wednesday, March 26, in a South Coast League game. (Photo by Martin Henderson)Flemming pitched five innings for Aliso and gave up three runs on six hits, two walks, with six strikeouts.
“We were hyped to get back on the field and show them what we can do,” Gray said. “We’re a good team, we have a good record, we know what we’re capable of. So we went out there, flushed the loss, and played like it was a new day.”
Like it was a gray day.
And now, after the disappointing loss on Monday and inspiring victory on Wednesday, Trabuco has a chance to win the series at home on Friday, where pitching will probably continue to be a storyline.
“I came into a pretty well-oiled machine and we’ve just poured a little kerosene on the fire,” said Lavoie, who coached at Long Beach Poly for seven seasons and replaced longtime coach Michael Burns this year. “Michael handed over a very good situation and we took that and hit the ground running. The expectation is still really high here, and these guys know they can win and compete at a high level. And so far, we’re off to a good start.”
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