LAS FLORES -- There were several words...

LAS FLORES -- There were several words fit to describe Corona del Mar

High’s 2-1 Pacific Coast League baseball win over host Tesoro Friday.

Great. Special. Dramatic.

Yet, for the Sea Kings, perhaps junior pitcher Blake Contant put

it best.

“This was a team win,” said Contant, who was dynamic, commanding

and scintillating in his performance that was backed by a

fundamentally sound defense.

Contant scattered four hits, faced three over the minimum, struck

out two and threw 52 strikes and just 19 balls.

“That’s illegal,” CdM Coach John Emme said.

Contant had 14 first-pitch strikes and was up 0-2 on the count

eight times. Yet, he wasn’t the only hero for the Sea Kings.

Corona del Mar junior pinch-runner Mitch Folks scored what proved

to be the game-winning run while hustling from first base on senior

Nik Palchikoff’s RBI double in the seventh inning.

“That was the best baserunning experience I have ever had,” Folks

said. “It was great and exciting.”

Barrett Sprowl was hit by the pitch to lead off the seventh and

Emme inserted Folks to run. With one out, Palchikoff, the Sea Kings’

left fielder, pounded a high fly ball to the fence in left field for

a double.

“The moment I saw the ball drop, I was just gone,” Folks said.

Tesoro Coach Rick Birail said there was a misplay on the relay

throw, but the ball appeared as if it was going to get there in time

to beat Folks. However, Folks went all out, and slid to the side of

the plate, beating and averting the tag.

The victory moved Corona del Mar (12-5, 7-0 in league) three games

ahead of Tesoro (9-9, 4-3), University and Northwood, which are in a

three-way tie for second place.

The Titans received a feisty pitching performance from junior

Bryon Evans, who allowed just three hits, cooling the Sea Kings, who

scored a 16-6 win over Tesoro Tuesday, when Corona del Mar collected

17 hits. Yet, despite Evans’ grand day, the Sea Kings had that little

extra something to win.

“The whole team stepped up today,” Palchikoff said.

In the fifth inning, Palchikoff scored on Andy Frenkiel’s RBI

single. Palchikoff was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning. Tyler

Lance moved him over to second with a sacrifice bunt and then

Palchikoff came home on Frenkiel’s base hit toward left field.

The Titans answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth and

nearly scored another had it not been for the Sea Kings defense.

With runners on the corners and two outs, Sam Lew knocked the ball

to the right-field corner, which scored pinch-runner Shane Keogh.

Justin Napora also tried to score, but Frenkiel grabbed the ball,

threw it to Sprowl near first base and Sprowl hurled it just as hard

at catcher Wess Presson, who tagged Napora for the out.

“That was beautiful,” Emme said. “It was a fantastic relay.”

Emme also came away impressed with Contant’s control on the mound.

“Blake was awesome,” Emme said. “That was by far his best game of

the year. He took this team on his back and carried us to the win.”

With the help of his curveball, Contant retired the side in order

in the sixth and seventh innings.

*--*

Pacific Coast League

Corona del Mar 2, Tesoro 1

Score by Innings

CdM 000 010 1 -- 2 3 1

Tesoro 000 010 0 -- 1 4 1

Contant and Presson; Evans and Torrie. W --

Contant, 4-2. L -- Evans, 4-3. 2B --

Bradbury (CdM), Palchikoff (CdM).

*--*