Briefs: CdM is national champ

The Corona del Mar High boys’ volleyball team has been crowned the Pacific Coast League champion, the CIF Southern Section Division II champion and the CIF Southern California Regional Division II champion.

What is next for CdM? Coach Steve Conti said his Sea Kings (32-4) are soon going to be crowned ESPN RISE national champions on campus.

Don Grable, the school’s athletic director, said the presentation by ESPN RISE might take place next week.

Conti said the Sea Kings this week held their team banquet, where Stanford-bound middle blocker Spencer Haly learned he was the Pacific Coast League MVP and the CIF Southern Section Division II Player of the Year. Junior outside hitter Parker Brown earned CIF laurels and Conti was the CIF Coach of the Year in Division II.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza

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UCI’s Hernandez in mix

UC Irvine senior Brian Hernandez is one of 10 semifinalists for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year award presented by the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

Hernandez, UCI’s third baseman and closer, is leading the team with a .351 batting average and a conference-leading 85 hits heading into the Anteaters’ best-of-three NCAA Super Regional beginning Saturday at 10 a.m. at Virginia.

He has driven in 31 runs while scoring 47, second best on the team. Hernandez, who had not pitched since high school, has 12 saves, a 3-2 record and a 3.29 earned-run average. The right-hander has made 27 appearances and fanned 23 in 271/3 innings.

The Big West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Hernandez owns a .976 fielding percentage and has committed just five errors.

Hernandez was a repeat first-team all-conference performer as a third baseman and was also a first-team honoree as a utility player.

He was drafted in the 27th round by the Angels.

Along with Hernandez, three Olerud Award semifinalists are also playing in super regionals, including Brian Johnson of Florida, Danny Hultzen of Virginia and Mike McGee of Florida State.

The winner of the Olerud Award will be announced in Lubbock, Texas, on July 3 as part of the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s Night of Champions.

— From staff reports

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Carpenter repeats

Newport Harbor High first baseman Matt Carpenter turned in a second straight strong baseball season.

Carpenter followed up last season’s Sunset League Rookie of the Year honor with first-team all-league laurels as a junior. He led the Sailors in practically every offensive category, batting .345 with six home runs and 15 runs batted in.

Carpenter finished with a .759 slugging percentage and a .537 on-base percentage. He also doubled six times, scored 16 runs, walked 24 times, and stole 10 bases in 12 attempts.

Senior pitcher Max Gerard and junior right fielder Chase Kapana each made the second team for the Sailors, who finished 9-16-1, 2-12-1 in league.

Gerard posted a 2.46 earned-run average in league play. Gerard and Kapana combined to throw a two-hitter in a 5-1 win against Huntington Beach, resulting in Newport Harbor’s first league victory.

Edison seniors Eric Snyder and Christian Lopes shared the Sunset League MVP award. Edison senior Henry Owens received the Sunset League Pitcher of the Year award.

— From staff reports