La Habra cools off Sea Kings

Steve Virgen

While losing, 4-1, and having a six-game winning streak snapped was a

humbling experience, the Corona del Mar High baseball team also

learned the importance of consistency against a defensively sound

team from La Habra.

Corona del Mar, which had outscored opponents, 67-7, in its skein,

played uncharacteristically in a game that featured above-average

pitching from both sides Monday at the Sea Kings’ diamond.

Corona del Mar senior Blake Contant and La Habra senior Graham

Velasco both went the distance and delivered solid performances that

resulted in a tightly contested ballgame through six innings. But the

little things meant a lot in Corona del Mar’s loss.

The Sea Kings (8-5) were down, 2-1, after six innings and finished

the game with the same amount of hits, seven, as the Highlanders.

With Corona del Mar’s powerful offense, it would seem the Sea

Kings could afford to make mistakes. But that was not the case.

With the loss, the Sea Kings will play visiting Aliso Niguel today

at noon in the fifth-place semifinal.

“You can’t afford to make mistakes, ever,” Corona del Mar Coach

John Emme said. “We had a little case of the spring break blues. We

came out lethargic and we got beat by a good baseball team. We didn’t

deserve to win.”

La Habra (10-1-1), ranked No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division

III, scored single runs in the second and third innings before the

Sea Kings, No. 7 in CIF Division IV, came within one in the third.

In the top of the second with the bases loaded and one out La

Habra catcher Eric Rivera hit an infield grounder. The subsequent

errant throw home on a fielder’s choice produced a run as Casey Rihn

slid in to break a scoreless tie.

A strikeout and ground out enabled Contant to get out of the jam.

Contant He struck out five and walked two in his complete-game

effort.

Velasco also struck out five and had one walk.

La Habra scored an unearned run in the third. Michael Ruvalo

reached on a bunt and made it to third after a two-base throwing

error on Daniel Morales’ ground ball.

After a strikeout, Rihn brought Ruvalo home with a sacrifice fly.

The Sea Kings answered with one run in the third inning and had

the opportunity to score more with the bases loaded and one out. With

one out, senior Ryan Kelly collected a base hit. He advanced to

second on a bunt by senior Parker Ferguson. Senior Josh Bradbury was

then hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Barrett Sprowl followed with a shallow fly ball toward right

field. The outfielder appeared to misplay the ball and it went off

his glove, allowing Kelly to score, but the center fielder was able

to throw to second for a force out.

Velasco got the next batter to pop out to end the inning.

“Both pitchers did an excellent job,” said La Habra Coach Mate

Borgogno. “In these tight ballgames, both teams are just hoping to

get an opportunity to get the big hit.”

The Highlanders picked up a key hit in the seventh inning. With

two outs and runners on the corners, designated hitter Bryce Stowell

smacked a double to the gap in right-center field. Both runners

scored and Stowell attempted to advance to third, but Kelly, the

catcher, threw him out.

The final CdM at-bat seemed promising, as senior shortstop Jeritt

Thayer led off with a single. But Velasco induced a groundout and

struck out the next two batters to end the game and improve to 5-0.

Thayer and Kelly each went 2 for 3 to lead the Sea Kings. Thayer

is now 6 for 7 in the tournament.

“We made some critical mental mistakes that gave them a couple

runs,” Emme said. “That was the difference in the ballgame. We have

to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

CdM plays host to Aliso Niguel today at noon in a fifth-place

semifinal.

*--*

Pride of the Coast tournament

Quarterfinal La Habra 4, Corona del Mar 1

Score by Innings

La Habra 011 000 2 -- 4 7 0

CdM 001 000 0 -- 1 7 2

Velasco and Rivera; Contant and Kelly. W --

Velasco, 5-0. L -- Contant, 3-2. 2B --

Stowell (LB).

*--*