CdM Sea Kings after Saturday’s non-league victory on senior day. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Corona del Mar High School’s baseball team did what it had to do Saturday, capturing an 11-0 non-league victory over La Quinta from La Quinta on senior day at CdM in the Sea Kings’ final regular season game.
Now, it will be up to the CIF committee to determine if CdM advances to to the playoffs. CdM (14-14) reached the coveted .500 overall mark and athletic officials can petition for an at-large berth. The Sea Kings finished 6-12 in the competitive Sunset League.
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
Coach Brian Wisler’s La Quinta team (16-11) had already qualified for the CIF playoffs with a second place finish in the Desert Empire League.
“I’m just real excited for our boys and the way they competed,” said CdM Coach Kevin McCaffrey. “We’ve been in must-win games for three games in a row now and we were able to get all three of them and we hope it was enough to get into the playoffs.”
CdM also defeated Edison 5-1 and Capo Valley Christian 10-5 to stay alive in the playoff chase.
Junior lefthander Stevie Jones (8-3) turned in another clutch performance, striking out 11 in 5 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing only two hits for CdM. He did not walk a batter and no runner reached past first base. Isaiah Vasquez and Noah Bertrand finished the shutout for the Sea Kings.
“He’s been like that all year, he has a pretty special arm, he’s been our guy all year and again, hopefully we get in the playoffs and see him go at it again,” McCaffrey said of Jones.
CdM took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Brady Gadol doubled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch.
The Sea Kings then batted around in the third inning, scoring four runs to break the game open. Third baseman Will Chiechi belted a bases loaded double for the Sea Kings and there were also two walks.
“Will was huge,” McCaffrey said. “We haven’t had that big hit and bases loaded you get that big hit was pretty special. We’ve scored 21 runs in the last two games. We haven’t had that offensive power, but we’re getting it at the right time, which is pretty neat, and same with Brady Gadol, five at bats and hit the ball hard every time. Our seniors are the ones who stepped up.”
Chiechi scored two runs and had two hits and Gadol was 3 for 5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Sea Kings put the game out of reach in the fifth inning scoring five more runs, taking advantage of three hits, two walks and two errors. Gadol had an RBI single in the inning. Pinch-hitter Ben Stone had an RBI single in the sixth inning for CdM’s final run.
It was a perfect senior day for CdM with McCaffrey subbing in seniors who did not start in the late innings. Seniors were honored after the game. A drizzle fell for the early part of the game.
“The boys are playing well,” said Jones. “It was senior day, so it was good to see all the seniors get in. Everything was working for me. Charlie Kaster caught a great game and got some good swings, Chiechi caught a couple barrels, the boys are hot right now.
“There was pressure but the boys handle pressure well. We knew this game meant something. Chances (for the playoffs) should be high. Tough league, we deserve it, the boys put it all on the field so I think we should get it.”
McCaffrey believes the Sea Kings tough schedule and several one-run losses in league will factor into whether his team advances. He told the players they will have Monday off then resume practice Tuesday. The CIF playoff pairings will be announced Monday, May 12 with opening round games on Thursday, May 15 and Friday, May 16.
“I had a look at our schedule and we went 8-2 in non-league games and had a rough patch in league,” McCaffrey said. “But every game was either a one or two-run game and you look at the competition we’ve played against, we played the best. We’ve proven we can play with the best so I really hope they get a chance to continue this thing. Even though we’re a .500 team our ranking is pretty darn high.”
Max Mora and Troy Enoki had the hits for La Quinta.
McCaffrey said he appreciated the Blackhawks making the long drive to Newport Beach. He would like to have his team play in the desert next season.
—-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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