Corona del Mar Off to Strong Start
Corona del Mar expects to make a run at the playoffs, and Friday the Sea Kings got off to a good start in Sea View League with a 7-2 victory over Newport Harbor.
A four-run first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Nate Lemmerman and a two-run homer by David Beser off Scott Beerer (0-2) was all the offense the Sea Kings (4-2, 1-0) needed.
Lemmerman added another RBI with a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Eric Wiethorn had a two-run homer in the seventh.
“It’s been a long time since we got off to a start in league like that,” Corona del Mar Coach John Emme said. “Last year it seemed we were always trailing after the first inning.”
Corona del Mar starter Matt Larson (2-1) and reliever Ty Harper combined on a one-hitter. Larson, who went five innings, gave up the lone Sailor hit--a home run by Nick Langsdorf in the second inning.
“Matt did a nice job today,” Emme said. “He was able to establish all his pitches and work both sides of the plate. [Opponents] can get comfortable against him if he’s only working on the outside half.”
Newport Harbor (1-4-1, 0-1) got its other run off Harper in the sixth on two walks and two groundouts.
But the Sailors had plenty of other chances. Larson and Harper gave up six walks, and Larson hit three batters. In the fifth Newport Harbor loaded the bases with one out. But the Sailors could not get a hit to put pressure on Corona del Mar.
“That’s been the theme of our season so far--trying to get that clutch hit,” Sailor Coach Jim Kiefer said. “Both teams had opportunities; they were able to capitalize and we didn’t.”
Kiefer said his immediate duty is to make sure the Sailors--who take on league powers Woodbridge and Santa Margarita in their next two games--don’t get their psyches buried, along with any hopes of being a factor in the Sea View race.
“Last year we were overmatched at times,” Kiefer said. “But this year the league is balanced; I don’t see a team that’s head and shoulders above the rest. We just need a couple of kids to have breakout games, and we’ll be OK.”
In another league game:
El Toro 6, Santa Margarita 5--El Toro (4-2, 1-0) capitalized on five errors in the seventh inning and scored four runs to win. Jim Stringham went three for four with two runs scored for the Chargers. Bob Pearce pitched his second complete game for El Toro and was two for four, driving in one run. Jeff La Rue hit a home run in the fourth for Santa Margarita. Catcher Eric Foss homered in the sixth for the Eagles.