High School Baseball: CdM’s Larsen shines

Corona del Mar High senior pitcher Evan Larsen was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year for second time in as many years in baseball after the Sea Kings finished in second place in league for the second straight year.

Larsen, a future Cal State Fullerton player, is on the first team with two sophomores from CdM (21-5, 11-4 in league), left fielder Preston Hartsell and sophomore shortstop JT Schwartz. The trio led CdM to its first 20-win season in 12 years.

The Sea Kings, who split second in league with Beckman, lost at Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon, 7-3, in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.

Larsen went 9-2 with a 1.07 earned-run average and one save. He struck out 92 and walked 17 in 78 1/3 innings.

The right-hander started 11 times on the mound, going the distance 10 times, two resulting in shutouts.

Larsen batted .367 with four runs batted in and two doubles.

Hartsell, who is verbally committed to USC, hit .364 with four home runs and 19 RBIs.

Hartsell finished with a .662 slugging percentage, to go with five doubles, three triples, 21 runs and 14 stolen bases.

Schwartz, who is committed to UCLA, batted .320 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. He had six doubles and 23 runs.

CdM senior catcher Donato Di Ferdinando and senior center fielder Brenden Hueston made the second team.

Woodbridge’s Zak Baayoun and Jake Larson shared the Pacific Coast League MVP award.

— From staff reports

— From staff reports