Sea Kings rebound with big win, 9-3

CORONA DEL MAR - Sophomore right-hander Griffin Dunzer won his

first varsity start and reliever Matt Marston pitched three shutout

innings for his first save Monday as Corona del Mar High’s hosting

baseball team defeated Saddleback, 9-3, in the consolation quarterfinals

of the Pride of the Coast Tournament.

Dunzer, who had only three innings pitched in two relief appearances

on the varsity prior to his start, allowed four hits and walked four in

four innings. Dunzer, called up from the JV for the tournament, improved

to 1-1. Marston struck out three and walked nobody.

The Sea Kings (13-4), ranked No. 9 in Orange County, will host Century

in the consolation semifinals today at 2 p.m.

“Dunzer and Marston were huge for us,” said CdM Coach John Emme, whose

team rebounded from Saturday’s 8-3 loss to Skyline of Utah. “It allowed

us to give (Cavan) Cuyler and (Nick) Rhodes their proper rest and it sets

up (the pitching rotation) nicely for the remainder of the tournament.”

Rhodes, a left-hander with a 4-0 record, will get the nod against

Century.

In the bottom of the fifth inning with Corona del Mar leading, 4-3,

the Sea Kings scored five runs to provide Marston with breathing room.

After consecutive singles by CdM’s Billy Eagle, Andrew Jones and Eric

Snell for one run in the fifth, Saddleback committed a two-run throwing

error on Wes Hockinson’s sacrifice bunt.

Later, Jason Savopolos singled home Hockinson for the fourth CdM run

of the inning, then the Sea Kings scored again on another Saddleback

error.

In the third inning, Dave Knecht reached second on an error and scored

on Keith Long’s double. Long scored on Eagle’s single, then Eagle stole

second and came home on Snell’s single.

In the fourth, CdM added one run when Danny Whittaker singled with two

outs, stole second and scored on an error.

Eagle went 2 for 4 with one RBI, while Snell went 2 for 3 with two

RBIs.

PRIDE OF THE COAST TOURNAMENT

Corona del Mar 9, Saddleback 3

Saddleback 000 300 0 - 3 7 4

CdM 003 150 x - 9 10 0 Nelson, Valenzuela (5) and Gonzalez; Dunzer, Marston (5) and McKeever.

W - Dunzer, 1-1. L - Nelson. Sv - Marston, 1. 2B - Long (CdM), Knecht

(CdM).