Sea Kings are forced to sweat

CORONA DEL MAR ? The proposition remains clear. Win Wednesday in the final game of the regular season and the Corona del Mar High baseball team will at worse share the Pacific Coast League championship with Northwood. Lose and the Sea Kings could be the league’s No. 3 representative in the CIF Southern Section Division III playoffs.

There was no yelling. Not even a hint of anger from Sea Kings Coach John Emme after his team’s 1-0 loss to Calvary Chapel on Monday set up the aforementioned scenario.

The postgame team meeting was short and to the point. Disappointment from the players was met by the two possible outcomes.

“We’re going to find out what we’re made of,” Emme said. “It’s nice to know we still have it in our own hands.”

The stakes are high.

Being the league’s No. 1 playoff representative would pit the Sea Kings (17-7, 8-3 in league) against a team that finished no higher than third in its league.

If Corona del Mar wins Wednesday and Northwood defeats sixth-place Tesoro, the league’s top playoff designation would go to the team with the best record against the next-highest team in the standings.

There are three teams vying for third place.

A Corona del Mar win coupled with a Northwood loss would give the Sea Kings the outright league title.

A CdM loss would mean heading into the playoffs with a three-game losing streak. It could also mean a first-round road game against a league champion.

“They just don’t get more important than this,” Emme said. “It has nothing to do with going into the playoffs with momentum.”

The Sea Kings face Calvary Chapel (14-7, 7-4) on the road Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. Corona del Mar has already clinched a spot in the playoffs.

To remain in the league title picture, Corona del Mar will have to right a downward spiral that started with the team in first by two games and riding a nine-game winning streak.

The Sea Kings have now been shut out in back-to-back games. But they did not lack opportunities Monday.

CdM put a runner on in each of the first six innings.

“I don’t think it’s struggling,” Austin Elliott said of the offense. “We’re just not getting the clutch hit.”

The clutch hit is something Corona del Mar is accustomed to, having won four games in the final inning this season.

“We were on [Calvary Chapel pitcher Dean Persinger] all day,” Emme said. “We just didn’t get the key hit. That’s baseball.”

A positive was easily visible in the mire of a disappointing loss. Senior Eric Eadington pitched what Emme called his best game of the year. Eadington only allowed two hits, while striking out 10 and walking none. It was the fifth time this season the team leader in strikeouts (90) has fanned nine or more batters in a game. It was the first time he did not allow a walk.

“I felt pretty good,” said Eadington who went the distance. “It’s a tough loss. Usually we pull through in the end. It didn’t happen today. Everyone is disappointed.”

Eadington retired the side in order four times.

The Eagles scored in the fourth on a solo home run by Vinnie Valdez.

Eadington has struck out 28 and allowed just two earned runs in his last three starts, spanning 18 innings.

Junior second baseman Greg Garte was two for four with a double for the Sea Kings.