CdM pushes across a run on a walk-off single by Butcher to beat Marina 1-0 in Surf League

Blake Butcher (left) had the game-winning single and Nico DeFerdinando started the inning with a double. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)

Marina and Corona del Mar baseball teams were locked in an intense pitcher’s dual for six innings Wednesday afternoon at CdM.

But Corona del Mar pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh and defeated the Vikings 1-0 in a Surf League game.

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The Sea Kings’ Nico DiFerdinando slapped a double to left center field to lead off the inning in his second at bat of the game.

Then third baseman Blake Butcher lined a ball to left field for a walk-off single to drive in Nolan Dunn, who had re-entered the game as a pinch-runner to lift the Sea Kings (12-4-1, 2-2).

“We had a couple sophomores step up, Nico with the big double to start the inning,” said CdM Coach Kevin McCaffrey. “I’m so excited for him. He’s been working hard all year and to get inserted into the game late (in the fifth as a pinch-hitter) and then to get that huge hit is really big for us.

“And then we told Blake, ‘we’re letting you swing. Find a way to advance him or score him’ and he found a way. I’m so proud of those two guys.”

Butcher was mobbed by his teammates after the hit.

“I went up to Nico before the at bat and said, ‘Nico, just hit a double and I’ll score you.'” Butcher said. “So I went up there and did my best and I got a base hit. I was just sitting back. I haven’t really been able to hit, so I’m super happy to have this hit.”

DiFerdinando added:

“I’ve been struggling with ABs and getting playing time all this year, so doing that felt amazing, It’s a really great feeling. It was very difficult. Almost all game we were struggling with runners on base and we had guys in scoring position and they kept closing it out and it was close all the time so winning it in the bottom of the seventh was awesome. I couldn’t be happier for our team.”

Marina’s starting pitcher Chase Hennessey blanked CdM through six innings working out of jams in the second, fourth and fifth innings. He allowed just two hits but hit six batters. Michael Turner came on to pitch the seventh.

Corona del Mar also had solid pitching. Starter Jarrett Thompson was impressive through five innings allowing three hits and striking out four. Brenden Morris came on in the sixth inning.

Morris retired the first two hitters in the sixth but Braden Wylde was hit by a pitch and stole second. Then Andrew Sojka walked to put two runners on. McCaffrey brought in Ryan Borquez who got Austin Halliman to fly out.

The Vikings (11-7, 2-2) also threatened in the third inning when they loaded the bases with two outs but Thompson worked out of trouble.

“I was so proud of Jarrett, he had a rough outing last week, we’ve been preaching compete and to compete like that is pretty neat on his part and all the other guys who got in there as well. I’m just real proud of what they did,” McCaffrey said.

“It’s huge for us, we had a rough two league games and we’ve been teaching this idea of competing and care more and they’ve been buying in and we’re happy with the results as long as they’re playing hard.”

Borquez (2-1) got the victory.

The two teams play again Friday at 3:15 p.m. at Marina and it will be the rubber game of the series.

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com