Baseball: CdM drops opener to Calvary Chapel, 7-2

Joseph Boo

COSTA MESA - It was a good looking matchup. Defending CIF Southern

Section Division IV champion Corona del Mar High’s baseball team going

against reigning Division V champs Calvary Chapel of Santa Ana.

But the result was less then ideal for the Sea Kings. They dropped their

season opener against the Eagles, 7-2, at Vanguard University Friday in

the first round of the Newport Elks Tournament. CdM (0-1) continues

tournament play Tuesday.

CdM took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first when its pitcher J.D.

Martinez doubled in Alex Swanson and Billy Eagle.

But Calvary Chapel (1-0) scored four runs in its half of the first,

albeit four controversial runs. With one out and runners on first and

second, Martinez seemingly picked off the Eagles’ Richard Maxson at

first, but the umpire ruled otherwise.

“We jumped out on (Calvary Chapel pitcher Kyle Christensen) for two in

the first,” CdM Coach John Emme said, “but the umpire blew that call in

the first. If we picked him off, it would have been 2-0 after one and a

different ballgame.”

Martinez ended up walking the hitter and striking out the next one that

would have been the third out. The Eagles then got a two-run single from

Tyler Ohanian. Two hitters later, one Calvary Chapel run came in on a CdM

pitch that bounced in front of the plate and got past the catcher. On the

same play, another run for the Eagles came in on a bad throw to home

plate.

After the first inning, Christensen settled down. In six innings, he gave

two runs, one earned, and struck out five batters. For CdM, Martinez gave

up six runs in 4 2/3 innings with five walks and three strikeouts. At the

plate, he went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.

“He pitched pretty good,” Emme said. “But his control wasn’t where it

normally is.”

Derek Loe and Wes Hockinson hit doubles for CdM and Emme had praise for

catcher Rory McKeever, who had two putouts.

“Rory was phenomenal behind the plate,” Emme said.

NEWPORT ELKS TOURNAMENT

Calvary Chapel 7, Corona del Mar 2Corona del Mar 200 000 0 - 2 4 3

Calvary Chapel 400 111 x - 7 9 1

Martinez, Cuyler (5) and McKeever; Christensen, Carrier (7) and Graves. W

- Christensen, 1-0; L - Martinez, 0-1. 2B - Martinez (CdM), Loe (CdM),

Hockinson (CdM), Carrier (CC), Christensen (CC). HR - West (CC).