Errors bite CdM

Barry Faulkner

Though his team’s play was anything but textbook, Corona del Mar High

baseball coach John Emme hopes his players can go to school on the

mistakes that contributed to a 7-4 Pacific Coast League loss to

visiting University Friday.

The Sea Kings, who Emme said have been hiding their shaky defense

with strong hitting and pitching, could not overcome six errors that

led to three unearned runs against he Trojans.

“As poorly as we’ve been playing defense, it was only a matter of

time before it came back to bite us,” Emme said. “You just can’t kick

the ball four or five times a game and expect to consistently win.”

Sea King fielders booted two ground balls for errors, but it was

errant throws that proved more problematic for the hosts (14-4, 7-2

in league), who are ranked No. 8 in CIF Southern Section Division IV.

The three unearned runs helped halt the Sea Kings’ six-game

winning streak, during which they had outscored opponents, 52-18.

It was not all charity that helped University (9-11, 3-6) upset

the defending league and CIF Division IV champions. The visitors

opened with two singles, a double and a two-run home run -- the first

of the season by cleanup hitter Mohan Martin -- to put CdM in a hole.

“We swung the bat much better than we did Tuesday [a 13-6 CdM win

that included 18 Sea King hits],” University Coach Chris Conlin said.

“And both pitchers really competed for us.”

Freshman left-hander Thomas Solowynsky held the Sea Kings to one

earned run on four hits through five innings to improve to 4-2.

Kazuki Saito, who started Tuesday but was knocked out in the third

after allowing seven runs, then tossed two scoreless, hitless innings

to post his first save this spring.

CdM, however, was not without several scoring chances. It stranded

six runners the first three innings and nine for the game.

“How many guys did we leave in scoring position?” Emme asked

afterward. “We needed clutch hits, but we didn’t get them.”

Emme said the defensive woes are an extension of poor practice

habits. He believes those habits have to change if the Sea Kings are

going to challenge first-place Tesoro for the league title.

“I think this game can be a good lesson that I hope our guys

heed,” Emme said. “We haven’t been very good on defense in practice

and that has carried over into our games.”

CdM’s lack of timely hitting helped a quality relief effort by

junior lefty Eric Eadington go for naught. Eadington did not allow an

earned run in six innings, striking out nine and surrendering just

three hits.

“[Eadington] came in and shut the door on us, so we tried to

squeeze and get some momentum going,” Conlin said.

One safety squeeze bunt produced the Trojans’ sixth run, while the

Sea Kings lack of execution on seventh-inning squeeze led to another

run. On the latter, the bunt was popped up for what appeared to be an

easy double play. But after fielding the pop, the throw to third to

nail the runner well off the bag went into left field, allowing a run

to score.

Tyler Lance had an RBI single in the first for CdM and Andrew

Williamson singled in a run in the third for the Sea Kings.

Williamson, a junior catcher, went 2 for 4 to account for half of

CdM’s hits.

Senior second baseman Taylor Alston also had a hit for the hosts,

who received stolen bases from Andy Frenkiel, Tyler Ray, Lance and

Jake Lemmerman.

University committed five errors of its own and Trojan pitchers

issued eight walks.

Pacific Coast League

University 7,

Corona del Mar 4

Score by Innings

*--*

Uni 4 1 0 0 1 0 1 - 7 7 5

CdM 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 - 4 4 6

*--*

Solowynsky, Saito and Gomez; St. John, Eadington and Williamson. W

-- Solowynsky, 4-2. L -- St. John, 1-3. Sv -- Saito (1). 2B --

Dowling (U). HR -- Martin (U).