CdM’s Morris to sign with Duke

Corona del Mar High senior left-handed pitcher Matt Morris said he will sign a letter of intent today with Duke University’s baseball program.

Morris, a 6-foot-3, 190-pounder, next season will join a former teammate in Jake Lemmerman, a 2007 CdM graduate and Newport-Mesa Player of the Year.

“I stayed with him during my visit,” said Morris of Lemmerman, who started at shortstop for the Blue Devils as a freshman last season. “I kind of had my mind set on Duke before talking to Jake.

“The school is big on academics and it has a lot of school spirit.”

Morris went 2-6 with a 2.60 earned-run average, earning him second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors last season.

In 56 1/3 innings, he struck out 30 batters and walked only seven.

— David Carrillo Peñaloza