Baseball: CdM drops opener to Calvary Chapel, 7-2
Joseph Boo
COSTA MESA - It was a good looking matchup. Defending CIF Southern
Section Division IV champion Corona del Mar High’s baseball team going
against reigning Division V champs Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana.
But the result was less then ideal for the Sea Kings. They dropped their
season opener against the Eagles, 7-2, at Vanguard University Friday in
the first round of the Newport Elks Tournament. CdM (0-1) continues
tournament play Tuesday.
CdM took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when its pitcher J.D.
Martinez doubled in Alex Swanson and Billy Eagle.
But Calvary Chapel (1-0) scored four runs in its half of the first,
albeit four controversial runs. With one out and runners on first and
second, Martinez seemingly picked off the Eagles’ Richard Maxson at
first, but the umpire ruled otherwise.
“We jumped out on (Calvary Chapel pitcher Kyle Christensen) for two in
the first,” CdM Coach John Emme said, “but the umpire blew that call in
the first. If we picked him off, it would have been 2-0 after one and a
different ballgame.”
Martinez ended up walking the hitter and striking out the next one that
would have been the third out. The Eagles then got a two-run single from
Tyler Ohanian. Two hitters later, one Calvary Chapel run came in on a CdM
pitch that bounced in front of the plate and got past the catcher. On the
same play, another run for the Eagles came in on a bad throw to home
plate.
After the first inning, Christensen settled down. In six innings, he gave
two runs, one earned, and struck out five batters. For CdM, Martinez gave
up six runs in 4 2/3 innings with five walks and three strikeouts. At the
plate, he went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
“He pitched pretty good,” Emme said. “But his control wasn’t where it
normally is.”
Derek Loe and Wes Hockinson hit doubles for CdM and Emme had praise for
catcher Rory McKeever, who had two putouts.
“Rory was phenomenal behind the plate,” Emme said.
NEWPORT ELKS TOURNAMENT
Calvary Chapel 7, Corona del Mar 2Corona del Mar 200 000 0 - 2 4 3
Calvary Chapel 400 111 x - 7 9 1
Martinez, Cuyler (5) and McKeever; Christensen, Carrier (7) and Graves. W
- Christensen, 1-0; L - Martinez, 0-1. 2B - Martinez (CdM), Loe (CdM),
Hockinson (CdM), Carrier (CC), Christensen (CC). HR - West (CC).
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