Chaminade Pays Dearly for Errors

Each time Chaminade High made an error Friday against host Corona del Mar, the consequences became more severe.

The last one cost the Eagles the game.

Ty Harper hit a sharp grounder with two out in the seventh inning that caromed off the glove of shortstop Nate Dunlap into left-center field, allowing David Beser to score from second base and lift Corona del Mar to a 10-9 come-from-behind victory in a Southern Section Division IV quarterfinal.

Chaminade (19-9) made four errors, leading to six unearned runs for Corona Del Mar (18-8). Three of those errors came with two out and sparked rallies.

“We just didn’t play defense,” Eagle Coach Scott Drootin said. “There’s no doubt we gave this one away. We hit well and pitched well, but just didn’t play defense. That was the difference.”

Chaminade led, 7-2, after 2 1/2 innings, but a slow roller went through the legs of second baseman R.T. Girch, allowing Matt Larson to score. Alex Bottom singled to load the bases and pinch-hitter Beser hit a two-run single to pull the Sea Kings to within 7-5.

Chaminade right fielder Jim Milkovich dropped a fly ball with two out in the first. Corona del Mar followed with a double and a single to take a 2-1 lead.

Jeff Hynick and Mike Nesbit each had run-scoring doubles in the third to give Chaminade a 7-2 lead.

Jordan Hoff had a sacrifice fly in the fourth to give the Eagles a 8-5 lead and Milkovich had a sacrifice fly in the sixth for a 9-7 advantage.

“I’m proud of the way we battled,” Drootin said. “I hate to have the season end like this, but we battled.”

Bottom and Beser hit back-to-back home runs to pull Corona del Mar to within 8-7 in the fifth, and Matt Larson tied the score, 9-9, with a two-run homer in the sixth.