Prep baseball: Sea Kings clotheslined

Barry Faulkner

IRVINE - The difference between remaining in the upper division of

the Pacific Coast League and falling back into the chase pack could be

measured by a fine line(r) Friday for visiting Corona del Mar High

baseball team.

Plagued by two line-drive double plays, a third twin killing and a

serious collection of various other atom balls, the Sea Kings dropped a

4-1 decision at University High.

The setback dropped the Sea Kings (10-11, 5-6 in league) out of a

third-place tie with Laguna Beach, which defeated Costa Mesa, 4-3,

Friday.

It did little, however, to dampen the spirits of CdM Coach John Emme,

who, thanks to a 4-3 triumph over the Trojans and a Laguna Beach loss to

Mesa Tuesday, has his team in prime striking range to earn a guaranteed

CIF Southern Section playoff berth with four league games left.

The Sea Kings play two games against Costa Mesa next week, followed by

two more against Laguna to close out the regular season.

“If we don’t make the playoffs, all we can do is look in the mirror,”

Emme said.

It appeared someone in the CdM dugout had broken a mirror Friday,

resulting in more than the Sea Kings’ share of bad luck.

With two out and two on in the CdM first, Billy Eagle’s screaming line

drive hooked into the glove of the third baseman, who was able to double

the runner off second with little effort.

After Josh Bradbury walked to lead off the CdM second, Keith Long

blistered a liner which was snagged by the third baseman, who then threw

to first for the double play.

CdM’s third double play helped douse a potential uprising in the

seventh, and yet another line drive to third was CdM’s final out of a

one-run sixth.

Bradbury’s liner to center was flagged down by a charging Trojan

outfielder for the third out in the third, leaving the bases loaded.

“We stung the ball all day,” Emme said. “But we hit it at them and

they made the plays.”

University Coach Chris Conlin credited pitcher Dan Warner for the

victory, but was impressed with CdM’s ability to consistently make good

contact.

“They have really improved since the start of the year (Uni beat them

at home, 6-3, March 22). “They are already a team to be reckoned with,

but they’ll be even better next year.”

After the aforementioned line-drive double plays the first two

innings, the Sea Kings used consecutive singles by Danny Whitaker, Nick

Karpe and Eagle to load the bases with two out.

Long led off the fourth with a single, but was caught stealing on a

pitchout.

Eagle nearly hit one over all defenders to lead off the sixth, but the

wind appeared to hold up the towering drive to left, which averted the

backtracking outfielder at the fence for a double. Eagle went to third on

a wild pitch and, one out later, scored on Long’s RBI groundout to third.

The Sea Kings were not totally without breaks, as a freak play ended a

Uni rally in the fourth.

The oddity occurred after Uni scored the second run of the inning on a

bases-loaded walk. Jeff Sagud then singled to center and Todd Macklin

came up throwing, trying to nail the runner attempting to score from

second. The ball went wide of the plate and appeared headed for the

backstop, before bouncing off the Uni bat boy, who was moving toward the

plate to collect a bat. As play continued, Uni scored a third run on an

overthrow to third, but the home plate umpire, citing interference on the

bat boy, signaled the third out. When Emme correctly pointed out the

second runner had not crossed the plate when the ball struck the bat boy,

a run, despite Conlin’s protest, was erased.

“Mark it down,” Emme later said with a smile. “I won an argument with

the umpire and we got a run off the scoreboard.”

Bradbury was struck on the back of his right shoulder on a comebacker

in the fourth, which was caught in the air for an out by Long at

shortstop. Bradbury quickly sprang to his feet, walked off without

assistance and pitched another inning. He later made a fine play at third

base, charging and barehanded a bunt, then throwing the hitter out at

first.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

University 4, Corona del Mar 1

Corona del Mar 000 001 0 - 1 6 3

University 001 300 x - 4 6 2

Bradbury, Contant (5) and Karpe; Warner and Sagud. W - Warner, 6-2. L

- Bradbury, 2-2. 2B - Eagle (CdM), Stone (U).