Baseball Game Preview: Mission Viejo Diablos vs. Newport Harbor Sailors

The Mission Viejo Diablos will venture away from home to challenge the Newport Harbor Sailors at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams have allowed few runs on average, (Mission Viejo 3.9, Newport Harbor 2.6) so any runs scored will be well earned.

Mission Viejo managed to slip by Northwood the last time these teams faced off, but didn't have those same answers this time around. Mission Viejo lost 12-3 to Northwood on Monday. The pitching woes were uncharacteristic for the Diablos, who until this game were averaging 3.86 runs allowed.

Mission Viejo got a good showing from Caleb Tucker, who pitched three innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off four hits.

At the plate, Mission Viejo saw five different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Max Osika, who scored a run while going 2-for-3. Sam Ursulo also deserves some recognition as he got his first hit of the season.

Meanwhile, Newport Harbor entered their tilt with Aliso Niguel on Monday with two consecutive wins , and they'll enter their next game with three. They came within a single run of losing the streak, but they secured a 2-1 W against the Wolverines. That's two games straight that the Sailors have won by just one run.

Mission Viejo's loss dropped their record down to 4-3. As for Newport Harbor, their victory bumped their record up to 4-1.

Mission Viejo might still be hurting after the 13-3 defeat they got from Newport Harbor in their previous matchup back in February of 2023. Can Mission Viejo avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.