High School Baseball: CdM bombs Artists, 13-9

Steve Virgen

LAGUNA BEACH - If Friday’s baseball matchup between Corona del Mar

High and Laguna Beach is any indication of how the Pacific Coast League

will be this season, then the upcoming action will most likely be wild.

The Sea Kings (4-3, 1-0 in league) were able to tame the madness and

the Artists as CdM used five home runs, which produced 11 runs, to take down host Laguna Beach, 13-9, in the PCL opener for both squads.

After the Sea Kings built a 3-0 lead in the first inning, the Artists

(2-4, 0-1) responded with four runs, then then added three runs in the

second inning. CdM pulled to within 7-6, after three innings.

After four, Laguna was up, 9-6, until the Sea Kings broke out with

five runs, including two home runs, in the fifth to take the lead for

good.

“It’s going to be a dogfight, definitely,” CdM Coach John Emme said of

the PCL this season. He also noted the importance of Friday’s victory.

“We may point to this one at the end of the year. This could be the

building block to what we hope is going to be a great season.”

Sea King junior Billy Eagle hit two home runs, both opposite-field

shots. His first homer, a three-run blast, gave CdM its second and final

lead, 11-9, with two outs on a 1-2 pitch.

CdM senior Eric Snell started the home run derby with his two-run

blast, his second of the season, over the centerfield fence in the first

inning.

Junior Derek Lewis and sophomore Nick Lutton belted their first

varsity home runs, both two-run bombs.

The Artists had two home runs to add more drama to the action.

“This is a big character builder for us,” Eagle said of the Sea Kings’

victory. “We haven’t been able to fight back when we’ve been down. This

shows that we have fight, especially when we lose Wes Hockinson.”

Hockinson, CdM’s starting second baseman, was hit by a pitch in the

first inning and missed the rest of the game. The ball hit his left knee

and he left Laguna Beach High in the fourth inning. He went for treatment

and X-rays at the walk-in clinic at Fashion Island. Hockinson’s mother,

Diane, said the knee is badly bruised and there are no fractures.

CdM senior Andrew Johns, who plays first base, replaced Hockinson and

right fielder Dave Knecht moved to first. Lutton then hit in Hockinson’s

sixth spot in the batting order.

In the first inning, junior Brandon Lewis came in to run for Hockinson

and Brandon Lewis advanced to third base after a wild throw to first,

which got him past second because the Laguna Beach pitcher was off the

rubber.

Brandon Lewis scored CdM’s first run when he dashed out of a pickle

after Johns’ grounder to second base.

“Wes is a real big part of our team,” Emme said. “You have to give our

guys credit. People didn’t blink an eye, went into new positions and did

a great job.”

CdM senior right-hander Cavan Cuyler pitched five innings to earn his

first victory of the season. He threw a ball on the first pitch for the

first 14 batters he faced. But, he responded to Emme’s challenge in the

fifth inning. Cuyler’s pitching led to three straight outs as Laguna

Beach left two runners stranded.

Sophomore Nick Rhodes recorded his second save of the season after

going two innings with two strikeouts and yielding zero hits.

“The Pacific Coast League has changed tremendously from last year,”

Artists’ Coach Mike Schubert said. “Any team can beat anybody on any

given day. And today, CdM had our number. We still have them two more

times and I’m really looking forward to getting back with them.”