CdM baseball opens season ranked sixth

The Corona del Mar High baseball team, which reached the CIF Southern Section Division III quarterfinals last year, will open the season ranked sixth in Division III in the CIF preseason coaches’ poll.

Corona del Mar is the only Newport-Mesa area baseball team ranked in the top 10 in its respective CIF division.

The Sea Kings, under Coach John Emme, finished last season with a record of 18-10. Corona del Mar was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Westminster La Quinta, 4-0.

The Sea Kings won their first- and second-round playoff games last year behind stellar pitching performances by right-hander Ben Maggard and left-hander Eric Eadington.

Eadington (5-1 last year), who had 11 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Orange in the second round, is back for his senior year to lead a Sea Kings pitching staff that should also include junior Vinnie St. John and senior Matt Hauser.

The Sea Kings also return junior infielder Jake Lemmerman and senior catcher Andy Williamson.

Corona del Mar won Division IV titles in 1999 and 2004 before moving up to Division III last year.

The Sea Kings struggled on defense last season, making 83 errors in 28 games.

Corona del Mar had won the Pacific Coast League crown two consecutive years before Tesoro took it away last season.

The Sea Kings have reached the CIF playoffs all eight seasons under Emme.

The season opens for Corona del Mar, along with the other four Newport-Mesa high schools, on Friday with the start of the Newport Elks Tournament.