Nick Karpe

Barry Faulkner

Having seen his admirably aggressive junior catcher attack the

competition, as well as the game, last season, Corona del Mar High

baseball coach John Emme thought long and hard about making Nick

Karpe the Sea Kings’ designated hitter this spring.

It was, one might argue, a bit little like relegating Rambo to

receptionist.

Yet, in a game where the fine line between ferocity and failure is

frequently crossed by those too fired up to function, Karpe has

managed to find a balance between biding his time and biting his

nails.

“It has been an adjustment,” Emme said of the shift by his senior

standout, who entered Friday’s CIF Southern Section Division IV

quarterfinal against visiting La Quinta hitting .380 with five home

runs and 22 RBIs. “Nick is a very emotional kid. But, it’s a

testament to him that he realized he has to play at a more even

keel.”

Karpe, who plans to resume his catching career next year at Irvine

Valley College, has learned how to deal with watching his teammates

play defense from the dugout. Further, he believes his peripheral

perspective from the dugout has actually made him a more effective

hitter.

“I think it has really helped me learn the game even more,” he

said. “I watch what pitchers throw in different situations. I sit

there and talk with [assistant coach] Jon Piraino and get his opinion

on things.”

It is more fact than opinion that Karpe has been on a tear in

recent weeks. In the May 23 first-round playoff win over Hesperia

alone, the Daily Pilot athlete of the week went 3 for 4, including a

grand slam, and scored three runs, to help the Sea Kings post a 19-3

triumph. It was his third home run in four games, making him the No.

2 home-run hitter on the squad, behind junior Josh Bradbury (10).

“I’m just really feeling comfortable at the plate,” said Karpe, a

left-handed hitter who added to his postseason binge by going 2 for 4

in Tuesday’s second-round win at Temple City.

Karpe hit .355 with one homer and 30 RBIs last season, en route to

first-team All-Pacific Coast League and All-Newport-Mesa honors after

transferring from Mater Dei.

Despite no longer running the game from behind the plate, Karpe

has retained a strong leadership role, Emme said.

“He’s our dugout general,” Emme said. “He’s the guy making sure

everyone else is into the game and making sure everyone is doing what

they’re supposed to be doing.”

Karpe, who plays no other sports, said he did what he had to in

the offseason to aid his progress as a hitter. His devotion in the

weight room added about 25 pounds of muscle to his 5-foot-9 frame. He

also initiated a nutritional program that has paid dividends.

Emme believes the lack of defensive duties has helped keep Karpe

focused on wielding the aluminum.

“The term professional hitter applies to Nick,” Emme said. “At

this point, a bat never leaves his hands when he’s on the practice

field.”

Aside from his increased attention to pitching patterns and trying

to work the count until he gets an ideal pitch to hit, Karpe offers

no explanation for his recent hot spell.

“I don’t even want to try and analyze it,” he said. “It’s like

they say, you don’t want to fix what isn’t broken.”