Struggling Sea Kings Surge to Victory

Sometimes playing in a tournament is not about winning trophies, it’s about revitalizing a struggling team.

Both Corona del Mar and Estancia fit that description. Although each team was coming off a victory Monday in the Pride of the Coast baseball tournament, both have managed only sub-.500 records.

But with Tuesday’s 16-0 pounding of Estancia at Corona del Mar, the Sea Kings (4-6-1) are showing signs that they may yet be a factor when Sea View League play resumes next week.

The Sea Kings, who had nine hits in an 11-0 victory over Costa Mesa Monday, had 18 hits Tuesday against Eagles’ starter Tom Zenus (0-4) and three relievers. Third baseman Matt Larson had four singles and a run batted in.

“We have struggled early,” Corona del Mar Coach Joe Koh said. “I think we forgot what it feels like to win. But after the last two games, we can start thinking again we can win, instead of ‘how are we going to mess up this time?’ ”

Certainly the Eagles (2-8-1) did not make it difficult.

Their defense was porous, making six errors--including three in the Sea Kings’ sixth-run fifth that turned the game into a blowout. The four pitchers issued a combined six walks, threw six wild pitches and hit one batter. The offense managed only four hits off Corona del Mar starter Paul MacMillan (3-0), who struck out six and walked one.

Estancia Coach Paul Troxel, whose team endured a two-victory season in 1996, was expecting improvement this season.

“One game it looks like we’re making some progress, and the next game we’re shooting ourselves in the foot like today,” Troxel said. “We still have many kids who have not played before, and I’m not sure they understand what it takes to compete. That’s not taking a slap at the kids or being negative; that’s just being realistic.”