Marina stuns CdM 4-0 on walk-off grand slam by pinch-hitter Chase Hennessey

Marina’s Chase Hennessey is mobbed by teammates after hitting a game-winning grand slam (Photos: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone).

Marina High’s baseball team just needed a fly ball to push across the winning run in a Surf League showdown against Corona del Mar Friday afternoon.

The Vikings got a lot more than that.

Pinch-hitter Chase Hennessey belted a pinch-hit grand slam home run to right center field with no outs in the bottom of the seventh to lift Marina to a 4-0 victory, helping the Vikings take two of three from the Sea Kings.

To see the slide show, please click on the first photo

“I was just looking for a fastball,” Hennessey said. “I swung over the pitch right before and I was just trying to get a ball in the air and hit it hard which I usually do. So it was nice to get a hold of one and get it up in the wind and carry it out.

“I was in shock for a second. I thought it was a pop-up when I hit it and it just kept on going and I saw the umpre doing the home run (signal) and it was kind of surreal.”

Marina Coach Toby Hess said, “I don’t ever remember being on the field for a walk-off grand slam.”

In the seventh, Dylan Holt led off with a double. The Sea Kings intentionally walked Andrew Sojka. Then Troy Kent reached first base on a fielder’s choice sacrifice as CdM (12-5-1, 2-3) tried unsuccessfully to get Holt out at third, which loaded the bases.

Hennessey, who rarely hits because he’s one of the Vikings starting pitchers, seemed like the perfect candidate to pinch-hit.

“He’s a good fly ball, sac fly guy,” Hess said. “It’s his first home run in high school and he has like nine at bats this year and he’s a senior with probably 12 at bats in his career. I think he came into this game 1 for 8 with a sac fly though.”

Hennessey was the tough luck losing pitcher Wednesday in CdM’s 1-0 victory. He pitched the entire game before the Sea Kings had a walk-off win on a single by Blake Butcher. (To read about that game, please click here)

Friday’s game had been a pitcher’s duel between CdM”s Tommy Wilcox and Marina’s Cory Lewis. Both were outstanding on the mound.

Wilcox had a no-hitter through 4 1/3 innings and allowed only four hits. He struck out seven and striking out the side in the sixth after Rocco Peppi led off with a triple.

“I’m really happy with the way our guys competed,” said CdM Coach Kevin McCaffrey. “Tom did a great job on the mound. We had chances to score in the first, third and fourth and couldn’t come up with the big hit.

“Lewis threw a great game for them. It was a really good high school baseball game.”

Kieran Seidebotham had two of the hits for the Sea Kings, who left two runners on base in the first and fourth innings.

Lewis, who got the win, allowed only four hits as well and struck out six in notching the shutout for Marina (12-7, 3-2).

MARINA AND CDM IN RYAN LEMMON INVITATIONAL

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