Newport Harbor’s playoff hopes sunk

NEWPORT BEACH ? Cheerleaders were in attendance, parents came out to watch and the sun made an appearance. The only thing missing was a victory.

Newport Harbor High committed five errors and Sailors pitchers combined for four walks and four wild pitches in a 10-0 Sea View League loss to visiting Laguna Hills on Tuesday.

It was Senior Day for the Sailors, who were playing their last home game of the season. But the parents ? who showed up to be introduced with their sons before the game ? didn’t see what made the Sailors competitive this season under first-year Coach Evan Chalmers.

The Sailors misplayed, bobbled and dropped balls hit and thrown to them. In the process, Newport Harbor dropped out of the CIF Southern Section playoff race with one game remaining.

“I told the kids they didn’t need to approach the game any differently because it was a big game,” Chalmers said. “The idea is if they think they need to do something out of the ordinary, they’ll press, and I think that’s what happened with certain individuals.”

Sailors starting pitcher Drew Harris had a rough outing, but he didn’t receive any help from his defense. Harris walked three and hit a batter in two innings of work. He gave up three hits and only one of the six runs he allowed was earned.

Harris survived a rocky first inning, walking two and hitting a batter to load the bases with one out. But he induced Alex St. Pierre to line out to third baseman P.J. Errington, who stepped on the bag ahead of the wandering runner for the unassisted, inning-ending double play.

Harris wasn’t as fortunate in the second inning, when he gave up three hits and the Sailors committed four errors. Six Hawks (11-14, 6-8 in league) crossed the plate in the inning to create a deficit the Sailors couldn’t erase.

He was replaced in the third inning by senior Chris Packwood, who allowed one earned run in 3 2/3 innings, striking out five and walking one. Packwood was greeted in the top of the third inning with a solo home run by Kyle Harrison on his first pitch. The right-hander gave up three more hits the rest of his outing, fooling hitters with a sharp-breaking curve ball.

Newport Harbor couldn’t get anything going off Laguna Hills starting pitcher John Lamb (5-4). The sophomore left-hander changed speeds and arm-angles effectively. He allowed just three hits and didn’t walk a batter. Senior Chris Thompson had two of those hits, singling and doubling. Only two Newport Harbor baserunners got as far as second base.

“You play a game like that, you just want to get back on the field and perform better as soon as possible,” Chalmers said.

The Sailors (12-12, 5-9), who reached their peak when they captured the Beach Pit Classic title April 12 ? they’ve lost five of seven since ? still have something at stake going into their last game of the season at Laguna Hills on Thursday.

“Obviously, we’re playing for a winning record,” Chalmers said. “It’s something that the program hasn’t seen a lot of. It’d be something to hang your hat on and build from. But basically I just want us to come out and play well in the last game. I just want to finish on an upswing.”