CdM start ‘unacceptable’

CORONA DEL MAR ? Two games into the baseball season and Corona del Mar High has yet to establish a personality. After two consecutive losses, Coach John Emme expects anger to be the first trait to surface in his players. The Sea Kings (0-2) were in command for the majority of the game, but a two-run home run in the seventh inning gave Paramount a 6-5 victory in Newport Elks Tournament pool play Monday.

CdM junior shortstop Jake Lemmerman was 2 for 3 with a home run, a double and two runs scored.

Senior first baseman Nick Peterson also hit a solo shot for the Sea Kings.

Paramount, however, hit three home runs.

After the loss, Emme said he still did not know how his lineup was taking shape. To figure it out, he said he would continue to rotate his starters until he found a core that was upset about losing.

“I hope I’m not the only who is going to lose sleep tonight,” said Emme, who has guided the Sea Kings to two CIF Southern Section championships since 1999.

“We are 0-2 and that just isn’t acceptable around here. We just hope they all would be angry about this. Right now we are trying to figure out what we are. Guys are getting auditions. We’re giving different people a chance to play.”

Not happy with the team’s performance, Emme sarcastically said the one positive of the game was that a senior “finally” got a hit.

“They’re now 1 for 2006,” he said.

Emme was pleased with the pitching effort of senior Matt Hauser, who faced the minimum through 3 2/3 innings.

But Emme is not happy with an offense that did not give Hauser enough support.

The Sea Kings could only put up a 2-0 lead through three innings, after leaving the bases loaded in the third.

“He just needed more support,” Emme said of Hauser. “He did a good job. He just made one mistake. It’s his first time. Overall, he did a good job.”

Paramount failed to hit a ball out of the infield until freshman outfielder Eduardo Magallon launched a home run over the left-field fence to cut CdM’s lead to 2-1.

The Pirates’ first hit of the game would kick start their offense and they would go on to tie the score 2-2 in the fifth.

Lemmerman led off the fifth with home run off the scoreboard, after nearly clearing the fence with a double in the first, to quickly give the Sea Kings back the lead.

“Jake is going to be our best hitter,” Emme said of the third-year varsity starter. “We’re going to expect him to be a leader on the team.”

Paramount junior catcher Mario Briseno hit a home run to center field to give the Pirates the lead back.

Peterson’s home run pulled the Sea Kings even, 4-4, but the hosts could not muster any more hits in the inning.

An error and Magallon’s second home run put the Pirates back on top, 6-4.

The Sea Kings rallied with two walks to lead off the seventh, but consecutive ground balls only plated one run and the game ended when a line drive was hauled in on the run by the center fielder.

Emme will receive a chance to test his team’s resolve again today at home, as pool play continues against Santa Ana Valley.

“We’re waiting to see how they’ll respond,” Emme said.dpt-cdmbasebal07.IMGGraphicInfoRE1OMDVQ20060307RE1OMDVQNo Captiondpt-cdm07-1-dl-CPhotoInfoGH1OMDTO20060307ivqlwiknDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Corona del Mar High’s Austin Elliott connects with a pitch against Paramont in the Sea Kings’ 6-5 setback Monday.dpt-07-cdm-dl-CPhotoInfoGH1OMEMR20060307ivqlv9knDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Corona del Mar players surround Nick Peterson, whose solo home run in the sixth inning pulled the Sea Kings even, 4-4. Paramount, however, eventually went home with a 6-5 triumph.