Sailors are kings of the Pit

CORONA DEL MAR ? Drew Harris hadn’t pitched during the first three games of the Beach Pit Classic because of a stiff back. But when it came time for the crafty left-handed junior to finally take the hill, he was more than game.

Harris worked out the kinks in the early innings, then cruised into the late innings, keeping the Newport Harbor High baseball team within striking distance until it could work out its hitting issues.

After compiling three hits through the first five innings, the Sailors broke through with six hits and six runs in the sixth inning and captured the Beach Pit Classic championship, defeating Westlake, 7-4, on Wednesday.

It was Newport Harbor’s first appearance in the championship game of the tournament ? formerly known as Pride of the Coast ? since 1997, when it lost to Santa Margarita.

Harris (5-2) allowed a run in each of the first three innings. But after giving up a solo home run to senior Randy Harmala to open the bottom of the third inning, Harris found his groove.

“I hadn’t pitched in a while, so coming back, it took some time to find my wind up and my pitches,” Harris said. “As the game went on, I felt I got stronger and stronger.”

He only allowed one more hit ? a fifth inning single to Harmala (2 for 3) ? before giving way to Tyler Parker in the seventh.

“He looked a little stiff at first,” Newport Harbor Coach Evan Chalmers said. “It took a little while to adjust and to get his back loosened up, then he started to find his comfort level.”

Harris retired the side in order for the first time in the bottom of the fourth inning, then only surrendered a single in the fifth.

The Sailors trailed, 3-1, in the top of the sixth inning when they exploded for six hits, and properly executed a delayed steal and a squeeze bunt.

“Our guys are still working on growing at the plate,” Chalmers said. “Guys like Brett Rogers need to see a lot of pitches, so by the third time around the lineup, they are more patient and comfortable at the plate.”

The third time around the lineup, senior Dustin Schuler led off the sixth with a walk, then took third on junior Brett Houten’s squib single to right field. Houten was caught between first and second after the throw to third base, but arrived at second safely on an errant throw to first by the Westlake third baseman and Schuler scored on the overthrow.

Rogers hit a deep shot that caromed off the retreating center fielder’s glove for an RBI double. After a triple to left-center field by senior Chris Thompson, Blake Fogg ? pinch hitting for Harris ? put down a perfect squeeze bunt, scoring Thompson.

Fogg was safe at first when Westlake first baseman Shane Kroker missed the low throw from third baseman Jason Barmasse.

Daniel (2 for 3, run), P.J. Errington and Skylar Kozad (2 for 3, RBI) all added hits in the inning. Errington hit a blast to right field that hit off the top of the fence and bounced back into the field of play for a double.

“I felt like we had a chance to come back at any time,” Cozad said. “We just kind of clicked in the sixth. It was a good time for everyone to hit.”

Parker bounced back from a rough outing Tuesday to secure the victory with a solid seventh. Westlake scored a run on two singles, a wild pitch and a stolen base, but Parker recorded two strikeouts in the inning on hard-breaking curve balls.

“That was impressive by Parker after struggling [Tuesday],” Chalmers said. “I think their guys thought they’d be able to get in his head because they watched the end of our last game. But not a lot of pitchers would be able to execute those pitches like he did.”

Newport Harbor (11-7) has shown a knack for keeping games close, even when the ball is not bouncing its way ? before striking.

“I’m as nervous out here as the next guy, trying to provide leadership,” said Chalmers, in his first year as the team’s head coach. “I’m humbled by how things are going. There’s some good, positive energy with the players this year. I hope we can carry the momentum into the Sea View League.”

The Sailors return to league play Wednesday at Aliso Niguel.