Baseball: Sea Kings jump out early for 7-2 win

Tony Altobelli

ANAHEIM - It’s something about those first few innings that seem to

motivate Corona del Mar High’s baseball team.

Seven runs in the first three innings helped the Sea Kings cruise to a

7-2 win over host Magnolia in a consolation matchup at the Foothill

Tournament Saturday.

“I don’t know what it is, but for some reason, we like to score early,”

Coach John Emme said. “We were able to move runners into scoring position

and we took advantage.”

Derek Loe went 2 for 4 with a double and three RBIs and J.D. Martinez had

an RBI double to lead the Sea Kings’ attack.

CdM (3-1) also took advantage of poor Magnolia pitching. The Sentinels

(1-5) allowed four walks in the first two innings with all four runners

scoring.

Alex Swanson did the job of a good leadoff man: two walks, two stolen

bases and two runs scored.

The Sea Kings also stole six bases in the game, a far cry from last

year’s bashers.

“From top to bottom, we have speed in the lineup,” Emme said. “We

definitely can fly, so we’re gonna take advantage of that.”

Cavan Cuyler, Dave Knecht and Wes Hockinson combined to allow only two

runs and three hits for the game.

Two walks, a double, single and two ground outs produced CdM’s four runs

in the first inning, while Loe’s two-run double sparked the Sea Kings’

second.

In the third, John DiCesare reached base on a hit-by-pitch, stole second,

stole third and scored when Magnolia’s pick-off attempt ended up in left

field.

It’s the third win in a row for the Sea Kings after starting the season

with a loss.

“The kids are doing a great job out there,” Emme said. “They’re getting

better and better each day and they’re starting to take advantage of what

the opposition gives them. I couldn’t be happier with their performance.”

CdM will travel to Redondo Beach High Tuesday for a twilight doubleheader

beginning at 4 p.m.

FOOTHILL TOURNAMENT

Consolation

Corona del Mar 7, Magnolia 2

Corona del Mar 421 000 0 - 7 6 1

Magnolia 000 000 2 - 2 3 2Cuyler, Knecht (4), Hockinson (5), Knecht

(7) and McKeever; Arbiso, Flores (5) and Martin. W -Knecht, 1-0. L -

Arbiso. 2B -Martinez (CdM), Loe (CdM).