Corona del Mar captures wild extra inning Sunset League road victory over Marina

Will Chieci hits a double to give Corona del Mar the lead Tuesday. (Photos courtesy CdM baseball).

Corona del Mar’s baseball team rallied late with four runs Tuesday to tie the game, then won 5-4 in 11 innings in a wild Sunset League game against Marina at Marina.

Marina (9-11, 2-8) struck first in the bottom of the third when Matthew Dean singled up the middle to score Luke Pratali who reached on an error earlier in the inning, according to CdM Coach Kevin McCaffrey.

Marina scored three more in the fourth inning with a two-out rally. Jayden Reichelt was hit by a Marcello Anelli pitch and then Shayden Sorochman walked. Nick Murrey singled to right field to score Reichelt. Luke Pratali then singled in two runs to give the Vikings a 4-0 lead.

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CdM (9-12, 3-10) countered with four runs to tie the game up in the top of the sixth. Vince Menard led off with a walk. Brady Gadol then singled. Ganon Overfelt then lined a single to center field that was misplayed allowing Menard to score.

The ball was then thrown into center field allowing Gadol to score and Overfelt to advance to third. Stevie Jones then drove in Overfelt with a single to make it 4-3. Charlie Kaster was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Jackson McDonald then reached when his sacrifice bunt was thrown away to load the bases.

JJ Haley lined a ball to center field allowing Jones to score on the sacrifice fly but Marina was able to get out of the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, Marina led off with a triple to right field.

But CdM relief pitcher Ben Stone was able to strike out the next batter and the Sea Kings intentionally walked the next two hitters to load the bases up. Noah Bertrand came in to pitch for CdM and he was able to induce a blooper to second baseman Jack Phillips who turned a double play with Overfelt to get the Sea Kings out of the jam.

CDM scored in the 11th when JJ Haley singled to left field and then stole second base. Will Chiechi then doubled in Haley to put the Sea Kings ahead by a run.

Jones came in to pitch the bottom of the 11th inning. Marina had two runners on following an error and hit batter before a ground out to second base to end the game.

Marcello Anelli threw 3 2/3 innings striking out four and allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) for the Sea Kings. Ben Stone threw 4 2/3 innings not allowing a run while striking out three.

Noah Bertrand went 1 2/3 innings and Jones for one inning.

Murrey threw seven innings for Marina and struck out four and allowed six hits and Luke Graves pitched four innings allowing two hits and striking out three.

“This was such an exciting game. I was so happy that our boys fought back and were able to score four in the sixth inning,” McCaffrey said. “To get out of the bottom of the ninth after allowing a leadoff triple was so great. Ben Stone got us a huge strikeout and then we brought in Noah Bertrand who was able to get a weak blooper that Jack Phillips was able to turn two on to get us out of the inning and extend the game.

“I am really happy for Will Chiechi. He was out sick all last week. He was able to give us the big double to score JJ that ended up being the winning run. This was a big team win for us. Nick Murrey was really good for them. We challenged our boys to put the ball in play with two strikes and they were able to do that today.”

The teams continue their series Wednesday at CdM and Friday at Marina with both games starting at 3:15 p.m.

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