PRIDE OF THE COAST TOURNAMENT : Corona del Mar Rallies to Beat Santa Margarita

After battling back from two deficits, Corona del Mar finally took a lead Wednesday, against Santa Margarita in the championship game of the Pride of the Coast baseball tournament.

Fortunately for Sea King Coach Joe Koh, the lead came on Kevin Stuart’s three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning, lifting the Sea Kings to a 7-4 victory at Corona del Mar High.

Stuart, who was 0 for 2 with a sacrifice fly in his first three at-bats, hit a 3-and-0 fastball from Eagles reliever Mike Penney over the left-field fence, clinching the tournament title and avenging the Sea Kings’ 10-5 loss at Santa Margarita earlier this season.

“We let him swing away,” Koh said. “That’s why we have him hitting fourth, isn’t it?

“We made several errors last time (we played). This time we played better defense and we swung the bats pretty good.”

It was Corona del Mar’s 12th consecutive victory in the tournament, dating to 1993, and the team’s second title in a row.

The Sea Kings fell behind, 3-0, in the third inning on a two-run home run by Fritz Maskrey.

Corona del Mar rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth on doubles by Myles Davis and Bryan Bear and a run-scoring single by Reuben Gulledge.

Chad Johnson, who struck out six to earn the complete-game victory, gave up a one-out home run to Brian Griffin in the top of the seventh.

“Chad was literally on his knees begging me to let him stay in the game,” Koh said. “It’s what he strives for as a pitcher. That’s the type of competitor he is.”

The Sea Kings pulled even in the bottom of the seventh when pinch hitter Mike Knecht doubled and scored on a wild pitch by reliever Chris Tessman.

Davis walked to lead off the bottom of the eighth and advanced to second on a throwing error by Penney. One out later Stuart hit his fourth home run of the season.

In the third-place game:

Newport Harbor 7, Century 1--Scott Sandstrom went three for five with three RBIs for Newport Harbor (7-9). Teammates Joe Urban and Greg Wertman also had three hits each.

In other consolation games:

Bolsa Grande 10, Rancho Alamitos 0--Jack Kusuda went two for four with two RBIs and teammate Alex Francisco went three for five with one RBI for Bolsa Grande. Ivan Vaughn pitched a one-hitter and struck out seven for Bolsa Grande (4-11).

El Modena 15, Los Amigos 1--Frank Bojorquez had two doubles and a triple and teammate Jude Chavez added a double for El Modena (6-7).

Estancia 6, Costa Mesa 0--Steve Baker hit a double in the first to lead Estancia.