Cavs in deep against CdM

Barry Faulkner

This star-studded 2004 New York Yankees have drawn comparisons to the

famed franchise’s historic murder’s row lineup of the late 1920s.

The lineup formulated Saturday by Corona del Mar High baseball

coach John Emme revealed the 2004 Sea Kings can send murderous rows

to the batter’s box.

“I told our guys [in the postgame address] I don’t think I’ve ever

filled out a lineup card with five guys who don’t start and thought

to myself ‘This is a pretty good lineup,’ ” Emme, in his seventh

season, said. “Today showed our talent and our depth.”

With reserves parading to the plate, interspersed with a few

veteran standouts, the Sea Kings amassed 18 hits in a 12-1 victory

over visiting Santiago in the first round of the Pride of the Coast

tournament.

Junior outfielder Tyler Ray (3 for 4 with two RBIs and three

runs), senior outfielder Dan Whitaker (2 for 2 with a walk and a hit

by pitch, one RBI and two runs), junior outfielder Andy Frenkiel (2

for 5 with an RBI and one run), junior third baseman Tyler Lance (an

RBI single) and junior second baseman Mitch Folks (a single), came

off the bench to get in their licks against the Cavaliers (2-9).

CdM stalwarts Barrett Sprowl (2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs),

Josh Bradbury (his sixth home run of the season) and Wess Presson (2

for 3 with an RBI and two runs) also did their share, before Bradbury

and Sprowl gave way to pinch-hitters.

But the star of the ample offensive show was none other than

senior shortstop Jeritt Thayer, who capped a 4-for-4 performance with

a two-run double in the sixth to finalize the scoring.

Thayer, known more for his slick fielding than his bat, finished

with a game-high three RBIs. He had just six hits this spring, coming

into Saturday, and raised his season average 122 points to .455 (10

for 22).

“He’s special,” Emme said of his defensive whiz, turned offensive

threat, who doubled his RBI output for the season. “I’m not sure I’ve

had anybody as polished as he is on both sides of the ball. He’s the

best fielder I’ve seen.”

Thayer, who played second base last season, when he frequently

occupied the glove-only half of the designated-hitter equation, gave

away his elation with a beaming postgame grin.

“It has been a while,” he said of a four-hit game, his best day as

a varsity batsman.

Thayer said the tournament, which coincides annually with the

week-long spring vacation, provides a more relaxed competitive

atmosphere than the Pacific Coast League schedule, the first third of

which the defending champion Sea Kings (8-4) completed Thursday

unbeaten.

Thayer, who transitioned quickly into baseball after playing a

starring role on the school’s CIF Southern Section Division II soccer

semifinalist, said the velocity displayed by three Santiago hurlers

didn’t hurt either.

“You had to wait for the pitch to get there, because it was coming

in slower than we’re used to,” Thayer said.

The Sea Kings, some of whom had to fight being over aggressive,

didn’t wait to wield the aluminum. The hosts batted around in each of

the first two frames, scoring five on six hits in the first, then

posting a four-spot on six hits in the second.

Sprowl, Lance, Ray and Thayer drove in runs with hits in the first

to help the comfort level of Ben Maggard, the Sea Kings’ junior

starting pitcher.

Bradbury sparked the second-inning uprising with a line-drive

dinger that barely cleared the left-field fence. It was Bradbury’s

16th homer in his two varsity seasons, as he progresses toward the

school single-season (12 by Ty Harper and Erick Wiethorn) and career

(24 by Harper in three seasons) home run records.

After Sprowl, hitting .581 this season, singled, Presson, Ray and

Whitaker all lashed RBI doubles in the inning to build the 9-0

cushion.

Maggard did more than his share to record his first varsity

victory, limiting the Cavaliers to two hits and no runs in his four

innings.

“Ben has been pitching great this season, so it was nice for him

to have an extended outing,” Emme said.

Sophomore left-hander Eric Eadington allowed just one hit in two

innings of one-run relief, before junior Aaron Harper worked a

scoreless seventh to close the deal.

The Sea Kings continue tournament play Monday at home against the

winner of Saturday’s afternoon clash between La Habra and Paloma

Valley at 11 a.m.

Emme said senior lefty Blake Contant (3-1) will be Monday’s

starting pitcher.

*--*

Pride of the Coast tournament First round

Corona del Mar 12, Santiago 1

Score by Innings

Santiago 000 001 0 -- 1 3 1

CdM 540 012 x -- 12 18 0

Toloza, Silva (3), Valdez (5) and Cabral;

Maggard, Eadington (5), Harper (7) and

Presson. W -- Maggard, 1-0. L -- Tolozo.

2B -- Lance (CdM), Presson (CdM), Ray

(CdM), Whitaker (CdM), Thayer (CdM). HR

-- Bradbury (CdM).

*--*