Newport Rib Co. Classic starts
- Share via
The Newport Rib Co. Classic got underway on Wednesday, and the 16-team high school baseball tournament features locals Corona del Mar, Estancia and Costa Mesa.
The Sea Kings opened the tournament with a 7-5 win at home against Soquel. Soquel, located 75 miles south of San Francisco, has come a long way for the tournament, which used to be called the Beach Pit Classic.
CdM Coach John Emme said he’s thankful that Soquel made the trip. The Sea Kings are one of the host schools during the tournament, which has games Friday and Saturday, and Monday through Wednesday.
“A school dropped out at the last minute, so we were a 15-team tournament, and you can’t really bracket that,” Emme said. “Soquel was kind of to come down for the tournament, and it can’t stay because it has school next week.”
Soquel has two games on Friday, first with Estancia at 11:30 a.m. and Beckman at 3 p.m. Both of those contests are at Beckman.
CdM resumes tournament play on Saturday at home. The Sea Kings face La Quinta at 2 p.m. Their next games are on Monday (Carmel) and Tuesday (Palm Springs), both at 11 a.m.
Estancia has a home date with Palm Springs on Saturday at 2 p.m., and it’s home with La Quinta on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and with Carmel on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
Costa Mesa plays host to Carmel on Saturday at 2 p.m., followed up by home games against Indio on Monday at 3 p.m., Laguna Hills on Tuesday at 3 p.m., and Palm Springs on Wednesday at 11 a.m.
There are some quality programs competing this year, Servite, ranked No. 4 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll, and Bellflower St. John Bosco, No. 4 in Division 2, and Beckman, No. 7 in Division 2. The Sea Kings are one of the other teams to watch in the Division 2 poll.
Baldwin memorial service
The memorial service for Tom Baldwin, who passed away on March 21 of complications from Parkinson’s disease, will be on April 30 at the Santa Ana Bowl from 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Before coming to coach football and teach at Costa Mesa in 1984, Baldwin coached many games at the Santa Ana Bowl as a coach at Santa Ana from 1965-73. Baldwin told the Daily Pilot in 2000 that he wanted his ashes sprinkled along the sidelines and in the end zone at the Santa Ana Bowl when he died.
Baldwin coached the Costa Mesa football team from 1984-91, and again in 2004. He taught at the school for 26 years.
Battle for the Bell at Angel Stadium
The Battle for the Bell baseball rivalry between Estancia and Costa Mesa will be decided at Angel Stadium on May 1 at 3:30 p.m.
The Mustangs took the second game, 10-7, at home on Tuesday to even the series. The win against the Eagles marked Costa Mesa’s first since April 24, 2015.
Costa Mesa last claimed the series and the Paul Troxel Trophy given to the winner in 2009.
Twitter: @ByDCP
