Sea Kings open PCL with win

Barry Faulkner

The Tesoro High Titans were almost innocent bystanders as some

early-inning controversy further disturbed the hornets’ nest that was

the Corona del Mar High dugout in the Pacific Coast League baseball

opener for both teams Friday.

Already ticked about Tuesday’s 11-4 nonleague loss to Back Bay

rival Newport Harbor, the visiting Sea Kings pasted together a

four-run rally with three singles, a walk, an error and a sacrifice

bunt to take a 4-0 lead in a game they would eventually win, 8-2.

But CdM’s motivational fervor multiplied in the home half of the

second, when a bizarre turn of events put Tesoro’s first run on the

scoreboard and sapped the Sea Kings of what was thought to be a

rousing inning-ending out.

The drama began with two outs and runners on the corners against

CdM senior right-hander Todd Macklin. Macklin appeared to step off

and throw to first when the runner broke early on a play designed to

allow the lead runner to score while a play was being made on the

trail runner.

After fielding Macklin’s throw, CdM first baseman Barrett Sprowl

correctly ran at the runner straying from third. When Sprowl threw to

third, the runner broke to the plate. Third baseman Corey Azzalino,

after an initial bobble, threw home to catcher Ryan Kelly, who caught

the ball and applied the tag, while being bowled over in front of the

plate. Kelly held onto the ball and CdM left the field, as everyone

in the ballpark assumed the third out had been recorded.

CdM Coach John Emme quickly and vehemently suggested the Tesoro

baserunner be ejected, based on high school rules requiring runners

to slide into bases, rather than try to knock the ball loose with a

collision.

The umpires huddled near home plate for a few minutes, then, based

on the base umpire’s previously unannounced decision, called a balk

on the initial pickoff move.

CdM returned to the field and Macklin ended the inning with the

second of his eight strikeouts. CdM immediately held a spirited

between-inning confab in front of its dugout.

Senior Josh Bradbury singled to start the second, and was forced

at second on ground ball up the middle. The CdM runner appeared to

easily beat the relay to first, but the base umpire called him out,

for a double play.

After Emme conversed with both umpires, an angry CdM squad took

out its frustration on the baseball.

Andy Frenkiel followed Wess Presson’s single with a long home run

to left-center field and Macklin made it back-to-back jacks with an

opposite-field clout to right-center.

Parker Ferguson singled and Jake Lemmerman’s sinking liner got

under a diving center fielder for an RBI triple.

With the USC-bound Macklin in command, the Sea Kings cruised to

their 12th win in their last 13 league games and improved to 3-4 on

the season.

Macklin, who shut out Mission Viejo earlier this season, scattered

seven hits and walked two. Of his 99 pitches, 68 were strikes and he

started 21 of the 30 hitters he faced with a strike.

“I’ve been trying to get Todd to use his change more and he

started doing it in the later innings,” Emme said. “When he does

that, hitters can’t sit on his fastball.”

CdM hitters were sitting on Tesoro starter Tony Trujillo, who came

in with a 1.80 ERA and had posted both of the Titans’ victories this

season (they are 2-6).

Trujillo gave up nine hits and all eight runs (seven earned),

before left-hander Derek Craddock got the final out of the third and

retired the first 10 he faced in 4 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit

relief.

Macklin and Lemmermen singled in the first two CdM runs, then

senior shortstop Jeritt Thayer, who combined with Lemmerman on two

double plays behind Macklin, whacked a two-run, two-out single in the

second.

“That was a key base hit,” Emme said of Thayer’s line drive to

left. “It was great to see [Thayer] help us with the bat, because we

definitely know he is going to help us with his glove.”

Macklin and Lemmerman, a freshman second basemen, were both 2 for

3 with two RBIs, while Macklin and Presson each scored two runs.

Emme, whose team is ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section

Division IV poll released Friday, said there were some changes made

after Tuesday’s loss.

“We had quite a meeting of the minds and decided we needed to

tighten some things up,” Emme said. “The kids wanted me to go back to

being more demanding and they have responded very well.”

*--*

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 8, Tesoro 2

Score by Innings

CdM 044 000 0 -- 8 10 0

Tesoro 010 100 0 -- 2 7 2

Macklin and Kelly; Trujillo, Craddock and

Torrie. W -- Macklin, 2-0. L -- Trujillo,

2-1. 2B -- Hill (T), Senters (T). 3B --

Lemmerman (CdM). HR -- Frenkiel (CdM),

Macklin (CdM).

*--*