Prep baseball: CdM: Taking care of business

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - With a workmanlike display of T.C.B., the Corona del Mar

High baseball team continued its mastery of the Pacific Coast League,

defeating host Northwood, 14-3, in five innings Tuesday.

The Sea Kings (11-3, 8-0 in league), ranked No. 9 in Orange County,

took care of business with an 11-run fourth inning as seniors Eric Snell

and Dave Knecht each smacked bases-clearing triples.

CdM left-handed sophomore Nick Rhodes earned his second win over the

Timberwolves (2-10, 2-6) to also remain undefeated at 4-0. Rhodes pitched

three scoreless innings and struck out four, while the Sea Kings

continued their offensive support. They they have scored 25 runs over 10

innings in their two games against the Timberwolves.

“You can’t take any game lightly,” said CdM Coach John Emme, noting

Northwood’s 12-7 upset win over University last week. “That’s the one

thing I keep harping to these guys. The moment you take one lightly, you

can put a notch in the loss column because anybody in this league can

beat anybody, it’s been proven already.”

After three scoreless innings, which included leaving the bases loaded

in the third, the Sea Kings came alive with nine hits and the 11 runs.

With one out, CdM junior Derek Lewis knocked a sharp grounder just inside

third base for a double and catcher Rory McKeever singled him in as Lewis

slid head first to beat the tag.

Senior Jason Savopolus and Knecht each cracked a single to load the

bases and sophomore Keith Long and junior Billy Eagle earned an RBI each

with wicked grounders.

Snell cleared the bases with a shot deep to left field for a triple.

Knecht also earned three RBIs with his blast to left center field.

“We finally started teeing off,” Emme said. “We were just taking a lot

of first-pitch fastballs. We made the adjustment and had a nice big

inning.”

The Sea Kings added three runs in the fifth when Lewis pounded another

double, this time a ground rule blast for an RBI. CdM junior Brandon

Lewis earned two RBIs with a single but was tagged out when he tried for

second, ending the inning.

Said Emme, “Knowing this week that University and Mesa are playing, we

know that we’re going to get a game on one of them and we have to take

care of business on Thursday.”

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Corona del Mar 14, Northwood 3

Corona del Mar 000 11 3 - 14 13 0

Northwood 000 1 2 - 3 6 3

Rhodes and McKeever; Morrison, Gragnano (4), Watanabe (5) and

Changala. W - Rhodes, 4-0. L - Morrison, 0-5. 2B - Lewis (CdM) 2, Johns

(CdM), Gentry (N), Watanabe (N). 3B - Snell (CdM), Knecht (CdM).