Prep baseball: CdM holds off Eagles, 6-4

Barry Faulkner

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High baseball coach John Emme isn’t

as concerned about his Pacific Coast League-leading team’s magic number

as, perhaps, where the magic has gone.

The Sea Kings rallied, then held on for a 6-4 PCL win over visiting

Estancia Friday to remain comfortably atop the league race with just four

PCL contests remaining.

But, with his team having split its last six games, with two of those

wins by a combined three runs, comfort is a concept with which Emme is

increasingly unfamiliar.

“We were at an all-time low (after Tuesday’s 5-2 upset loss to the

Eagles) and now we’re crawling out of that hole,” Emme said following

Friday’s win, which improved the Sea Kings, ranked No. 9 in Orange County

and CIF Southern Section Division IV, to 15-6, 10-1 in league.

The Sea Kings hold a 2 1/2-game lead over second-place University,

which they visit Tuesday, then host Friday, needing just one victory to

clinch their first PCL crown.

“During the whole Easter (Pride of the Coast) tournament, it was like

we didn’t want to be out there,” Emme said. “But I don’t think we’ll have

problems with motivation the next two weeks (a two-game Costa Mesa series

follows Uni). If we do, we have deeper issues than I thought.”

Estancia (6-14, 3-8) forced the issue Friday, outhitting the Sea

Kings, 10-7, and at least matching their pitching proficiency. But, it

was defense that let the Eagles down.

“We came in with a plan to make (the Sea Kings) hit off-speed pitches

and it was working,” Estancia Coach Doug Deats said. “(Starter Brent

Davis) pitched well and I thought we hit pretty well. But we sure didn’t

play well defensively.”

The Eagles committed five of their six errors in the first two

innings, including three in CdM’s five-run second, during which the hosts

erased a 1-0 lead. Only half of CdM’s runs were earned.

Estancia also left 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded in

the first, to help CdM win the season series, 2-1.

“That’s a far different team that the one we saw the first time

around,” Emme said of Estancia, which CdM hammered, 10-0, allowing just

one hit, in a five-inning, mercy-rule affair March 23. “Doug has done a

great job with those guys.”

Jordan Hart, who went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, singled in the first run

for the Eagles, but an error allowed CdM to tie it up in the second.

Danny Whitaker’s RBI single gave CdM the lead for good and senior

leadoff man Billy Eagle belted a two-run homer over the high fence in

straightaway center to make it 4-1. Keith Long, who reached on an infield

bobble, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. He then scored on

a balk to make it 5-1.

Estancia rallied for three in the fourth on RBI singles by J.B. Goff

and Hart, as well as a bases-loaded walk to Armando Ortiz.

The Eagles received hits from eight spots in their lineup and were

given five walks.

But, CdM’s defense made the plays when it needed to. Eagle, an All-CIF

center fielder, illustrated this point, charging a single and throwing to

catcher Rory McKeever, who made a courageous tag to nail the would-be

tying run trying to score from second to end the Estancia fourth.

Whitaker, in right, and Jason Savopolos, in left, also made fine

catches to rob potential Estancia hits. Long, the shortstop, as well as

first baseman Andrew Johns, added fine defensive plays.

CdM senior right-hander Cavan Cuyler earned his sixth win in eight

pitching decisions, but not without three shutout relief innings from

senior Eric Snell, who earned his first save.

“Eric has been phenomenal all year on the mound (now a 1.19 ERA in 17

2/3 innings) and he really closed the door today,” Emme said.

Eagle went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, while Whitaker went 2 for 3 with an

RBI, starting in place of senior Dave Knecht, who is out indefinitely

with mononucleosis.

“It seems like every time we put Danny in there, he gets a hit or

two,” Emme said.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

Corona del Mar 6, Estancia 4

Estancia 100 300 0 - 4 10 6

Corona del Mar 050 001 x - 6 7 1

Davis, Hart (6) and Lund, Davis (6); Cuyler, Snell (5) and McKeever. W

- Cuyler, 6-2 . L - Davis, 3-4. Sv - Snell (1). HR - Eagle (CdM).