CdM blanks Orange

Bryce Alderton

Corona del Mar High pitchers, all two of them through two games of

the CIF Southern Section Division III baseball playoffs, are becoming

experts in problem solving, even if they have rattled their coaches’

nerves on occasion.

But with each passing inning, no matter the number of runners on

base, the most important barometer still stands at zero -- or runs

allowed by the Sea Kings.

On Tuesday, junior left-hander Eric Eadington followed up senior

Ben Maggard’s complete game Friday with his first of the season,

striking out 11 despite six walks in a four-hit shutout as the host

Sea Kings turned away Orange, 4-0, in a second-round contest.

The victory sets up a quarterfinal contest against top-seeded La

Quinta on Friday.

The Sea Kings (18-9), winners of seven straight playoff games

dating to last season, when they won the Division IV championship,

tallied eight hits. Five came in a four-run third inning off Orange

senior right-handed ace Anthony Welsh (7-2), who also went the

distance.

But Eadington, making his first CIF playoff start, with the help

of a nearly flawless defense, frustrated the Panthers (21-10), who

stranded eight runners.

Eadington, who improved to 5-1, fanned his mound counterpart --

Welsh -- with a letter-high fastball to end Orange’s final threat in

the seventh with runners on first and third.

The Panthers, who finished second in the Golden West League, had a

runner reach third in the third, sixth and seventh innings. Eadington

said the pressure helped him with concentration.

“The intensity level is way up [in the CIF playoffs],” Eadington

said. “You’re more focused in these games.”

Eadington fell behind several batters, 3-1, which elevated his

pitch count -- 59 through three innings -- causing CdM coaches to

contemplate bringing in relief.

No need.

“He said he felt good,” Emme said of Eadington. “We had [Matt]

Hauser ready, but [Eadington] threw strikes and [the Panthers] didn’t

hit him.”

CdM hitters found their groove in the third, with four straight

singles to begin the inning. Senior Andy Frenkiel and sophomore Jake

Lemmerman lined back-to-back RBI singles to score junior R.J.

Duernberger and senior Mitch Folks (bunt), who both reached on

infield hits.

CdM led, 2-0, and senior Wess Presson walked to load the bases

with no outs.

It remained that way after a flyout and fielder’s choice.

But senior Taylor Alston didn’t waste his opportunity at the

plate. The third baseman sent a 2-0 pitch past Orange’s diving third

baseman and shortstop into left field to plate Lemmerman and Presson

with the Sea Kings’ third and fourth runs.

“I told the team if we came out with only two runs, that would

have been deflating,” Emme said. “That was a huge two-out hit.

[Alston] has been doing that all year.”

CdM, runner-up in the Pacific Coast League, had only two

baserunners the final three innings as Welsh retired the final seven

hitters he faced.

Orange had runners on first and second with one out in the sixth,

but consecutive groundouts to second thwarted that chance.

The Sea Kings also escaped trouble in the second. With two outs,

Eadington overthrew senior first baseman Tyler Lance on a pickoff

attempt, allowing Orange’s Jaimison Bottomley to take third.

A walk to Ricky Corteal put runners at first and third with two

outs. Eadington fell behind Jeremy Guimont, 3-1, but fought back and

fanned Guimont with a curveball that found the outside corner.

Eadington said throwing strikes was his main thought as Orange

threatened with baserunners.

The CdM defense committed only one error and aided in the victory,

even if it meant a collision along the way.

Junior catcher Andy Williamson and Lance collided while eyeing a

foul popup in the third inning. Lance caught the ball for the third

out as both players crashed to the turf. Lance quickly sprang up, but

Williamson laid on his back for a couple minutes before standing and

walking into the dugout.

Two innings later Williamson dived head-first to catch a popup

along the first-base line, nearly clipping the legs of Eadington

along the way.

A balanced offense bolstered CdM, with seven players tallying at

least one hit.

Lemmerman, who went 2 for 3 with a double, run scored and RBI,

extended his hitting streak to eight games while Alston, who leads

the team with a .396 average, finished 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Frenkiel (RBI), Tyler Ray, Duernberger (run), Folks (run) and Presson

(run), all singled.

CIF Division III

Second round

Corona del Mar 4,

Orange 0

Score by Innings

*--*

Orange 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 4 0

CdM 0 0 4 0 0 0 x - 4 8 1

*--*

Welsh and Guimont; Eadington and Williamson. W -- Eadington, 5-1.

L -- Welsh, 7-2. 2B -- Lemmerman (CdM), Wilson (O).