Sea Kings victorious in wild card

Steve Virgen

On a quaint softball field tucked away near a pistol and rifle firing

range, the Corona del Mar High softball team made history.

It was here, the Sea Kings notched their first CIF Southern

Section playoff win, a 5-2, Division IV, wild-card victory over host

Mary Star of the Sea Wednesday at San Pedro Girls Softball Field.

While the surroundings were rather unique, Corona del Mar (17-8)

used a familiar and simple game plan to earn its momentous victory.

The Sea Kings depended on sound defense, solid pitching and key hits

to take control of the Stars (10-16).

Holly Van Hiel, Corona del Mar’s star freshman, went 4 for 4,

stole two bases and scored three runs. Van Hiel, the leadoff hitter,

also had a triple in the sixth inning.

CdM senior catcher Sarah Stern smacked a two-run triple in the

fourth, giving the Sea Kings a 4-0 lead and helping them advance to

the CIF Division IV first round, in which they will play at Culver

City Friday at 3:15 p.m.

Freshman Michelle Tolfa improved to 8-5, striking out four, while

allowing seven hits. Van Hiel and Stern each scored in the first

inning to help Corona del Mar grab the advantage.

“This win says a lot about our team,” said Stern, a team captain

who was especially determined since she played in each of CdM’s

playoff losses the past three years. “The win shows how much the

program has really come along. In the future, we are definitely going

to be a school to be reckoned with.”

Apparently the Sea Kings were not reckoned with entering

Wednesday’s game. John Balesteri, Mary Star of the Sea’s first-year

coach, said his players thought they would win. The Stars, who

featured four senior starters, finished second in the Del Rey League

and were the only second-place representative in the wild-card round.

“We got caught up and maybe looked past CdM [which has five

freshman starters],” Balesteri said. “But take nothing away from

them. They are a very good team.”

The Sea Kings, who won a Pacific Coast League third-place,

tiebreaker game in 11 innings over Calvary Chapel to advance to the

CIF playoffs, appeared to be the favorites, scoring two runs in the

first and fourth innings.

Van Hiel, a right fielder when she doesn’t pitch, singled to left

to open the game. After a pop fly, Stern drew a walk. Tolfa reached

on an error by the third baseman to load the bases.

Ann Klunder, the designated hitter and one of six freshmen for the

Sea Kings, hit a ground ball toward third base where another error

occurred, allowing Van Hiel to score. Senior shortstop Jackie

Manning, also a team captain, collected an RBI groundout, plating

Stern.

In the fourth, junior Lauren Gega reached on an error and Van Hiel

singled to centerfield. Corona del Mar Coach Nichole Thompson called

for a double steal and the duo executed it. With two outs, Stern

pounded her aforementioned two-run triple on the first pitch.

Van Hiel’s triple in the sixth was followed by another great call

by Thompson, who signaled for a suicide squeeze.

Freshman Allie Duernberger laid a well-placed bunt about five feet

out toward third base. The Stars pitcher scooped the ball and tossed

it home, where Van Hiel slid under the tag for a 5-1 lead.

Klunder, Duernberger, Manning and Andrea Dort contributed one hit

each.

Manning dived to make a show-stopping catch in the fourth for the

second out, while the Stars had a runner on third.

“We made some mistakes in the game, so I wanted them to know that

and correct them for our game on Friday,” Thompson said of what she

told her team after the win. “But I told them, ‘We are a part of

history for our school now. Enjoy it. Good job, overall.’ ”

*--*

CIF Division IV

Wild card

Corona del Mar 5, Mary Star of the Sea 2

Score by Innings

CdM 200 201 0 -- 5 9 2

Mary 000 100 1 -- 2 7 4

Tolfa and Stern; Prieto and Galaz. W --

Tolfa, 8-5. L -- Prieto, 10-12. 2B --

Domingo (MS). 3B -- Stern (CdM), Van Hiel

(CdM), Raciak (MS).

*--*